Bridge Experience ensures every agricultural and applied economics graduate leaves with real-world experience

Across the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Bridge Experiences connect academic coursework with hands-on learning opportunities that prepare students for their careers.

"We know these experiences are important to our students and employers," said Susan Sumner, associate dean for academic programs in the college.

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics is expanding those opportunities through a new Bridge Experience program that will begin this fall. The program connects classroom learning with career-focused professional experiences through internships, undergraduate research, international experiences, industry partnerships, and other approved opportunities. By applying what they learn beyond the classroom, students will develop leadership, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while exploring careers aligned with their interests.

To lead the initiative, Mario Ortez, assistant professor of agribusiness, has been appointed the department's Bridge Experience program director. A new website also connects students, faculty, alumni, and industry partners with opportunities that support the program.

"We are committed to cultivating the competencies our students need to be job-ready after graduation," Ortez said. "This extends beyond technical knowledge to developing leadership, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving through real-world experiences. This is what the Bridge Experience is designed to do."

A bridge to success

This summer, four students offered an early example of what a Bridge Experience can look like by tackling one of agriculture’s biggest questions: How will we feed a growing planet?

Seniors Diego Cuadra, Alex Fuentes, Abby Johnson, and Amanda Thrasher represented the department at the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) conference in Cork, Ireland, alongside Karl Rich, department head and professor, and Normand Adams, undergraduate advisor.

IFAMA brings together global leaders, faculty, and students from across the food and agriculture industries and universities to explore innovative solutions to strengthen agrifood systems and meet the food demands of a growing population.

As part of the conference, the student team competed in a themed case competition focused on Ireland’s agricultural policy, exploring how agritech businesses in Ireland can learn from strategies used in other countries and identify practices that could be adapted and implemented.

The team spent the summer preparing for the competition through research, brainstorming sessions, and presentation practices, before presenting their recommendations to the panel of judges.

Although the team did not take home the honors, the experience proved invaluable.

“It was wonderful to work with my peers throughout the process of preparing for IFAMA,” said Johnson, a first-generation college student. “I think we all learned a lot about our strengths and weaknesses, and that better allowed us to work together as a team.”

Beyond the competition, students attended a variety of workshops on food systems, the future of food retail, functional food innovation, changing consumer landscapes, regional agribusiness, and other related topics. They also networked with researchers, industry professionals, and fellow students from around the world.

Fuentes said the experience broadened his understanding of the agricultural industry and the wide range of career opportunities that are available to him after graduating. He also gained a deeper appreciation for networking and building relationships.

Cuadra was impressed with how artificial intelligence is advancing seed innovation and helping develop crops that are more resilient to changing climates and temperatures. The experience showed him that new technology can directly benefit producers.

“These types of opportunities are crucial for our students,” Rich said. “Students will take these experiences, coupled with what they learn in the classroom, to become even better leaders once they graduate.”

Experiences like these are central to the comprehensive education Virginia Tech aims to provide through Virginia Tech Advantage. Thanks to the generosity of donors, students can overcome financial barriers, making opportunities like these accessible.

“I cannot express how grateful I am for this experience,” said Thrasher. “Seeing a new country and thriving agriculture with the most beautiful pastures was honestly breathtaking. Thank you to all of those who made it possible.”

Photos courtesy of Abby Johnson.