By Riley Hiscocks
From club involvement to building relationships with fellow members of Alpha Gamma Rho, Andrew Boschert’s many roles in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have contributed to him receiving the CALS Student Council Outstanding Ambassador of Agriculture and Life Sciences Award for fall 2022.
Boschert, a senior in animal science from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, attributes his adventure at Iowa State University to the confidence and leadership abilities he has today.
“My experiences at Iowa State have allowed me to develop and leave as such a better person than when I first arrived in Ames as a shy Wisconsinite,” Boschert said.
Throughout his time on campus, Boschert has compiled an impressive set of experiences. However, he said his extensive involvement in Alpha Gamma Rho Agriculture Fraternity has been the most beneficial experience to his personal and professional development.
“Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity is Iowa State’s only fraternity that is solely made up of individuals studying within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Because of my involvement in AGR, I have been able to reap the benefits of connecting with individuals in the agriculture industry, refining my leadership skills, engaging in community service activities, and participating in personal and professional development opportunities at a local and national level,” Boschert said.
Cole Eden, former AGR president and 2022 agricultural business graduate, said he began noticing Boschert’s potential when he was elected as the chapter’s Civic Engagement Chair.
“In this role, Andrew assisted with outreach and philanthropic events that our chapter would put on throughout the year, including the ISU 4U program,” Eden wrote in support of Boschert’s nomination for the award. “Andrew spent hours preparing activities and agricultural education material for his fellow brothers to facilitate when we would attend King and Moulton elementary schools in Des Moines. Many of these children have had zero exposure to agriculture, so Andrew took it upon himself to make this opportunity as memorable as possible for these young minds and to shine a positive light on production agriculture.”
Outside of his involvement in AGR, Boschert has been involved in Swine Production Advocates, Greek Week Central, Block and Bridle, Alpha Zeta Agriculture Honor Society and the Gamma Sigma Alpha Greek Academic Honor Society.
As a member of the Block and Bridle Club, he was able to participate in a variety of livestock shows and volunteer for the Meals for the Heartland event, which provides meals for those facing food insecurity. Boschert’s favorite CALS memory or experience comes from being involved with the Bacon Expo event.
“When the world around us was imploding with the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of college students went to the drawing board and made Bacon Expo in 2020 a great success,” Boschert said. “I will forever be grateful for being part of a group of students who were willing to make sacrifices and work against the odds to pull off the event.”
As an education co-chair for Bacon Expo in 2020, he was responsible for working with the Iowa Pork Producers Association to provide educational activities for students and the public attending the event to learn more about the pork industry. In 2021, Boschert had the opportunity to serve as one of the general tri-chairs, where he oversaw a team of 18 individuals to ensure a successful event while also raising money for One Heart Equestrian Therapy, Inc.
Boschert has received a lengthy list of awards, but the award he is most proud of is the CALS Council Outstanding Ambassador of Agriculture and Life Sciences Award. He feels honored and privileged to be recognized for the time and work he has dedicated to advocating for the agriculture industry.
“I would like to thank my professors, CALS peers, AGR fraternity brothers, and life mentors for helping me along the way during my time at Iowa State University. I certainly did not get to where I am today without the help and support from those around me,” Boschert said.
Following graduation, Boschert will attend Kansas State University in January to pursue a master’s degree in swine nutrition.