Agribusiness:
Meredith Motto
Meredith Motto is an Agribusiness major and currently serves as the Communications Specialist for the Professional Agricultural Student (PAS) Society. She is competing in the Ag Sales and Equine Specialist competitions at the upcoming National PAS Organization Competition, held from March 17th to 20th in Sheridan, Wyoming. Alongside her, seventeen other BYU-Idaho PAS society members will compete in various events across different categories.
The Ag Sales portion has been especially valuable to Meredith during her time at Brigham Young University - Idaho, as it requires her to create a presentation and market it effectively without knowing her exact audience in advance.
Daniel Rhodes, PAS Society President, and Jeremy Slade, the team’s advisor, have played a significant role in guiding Meredith through her preparation. With professional workshops and networking opportunities, they have helped her, and the team gain valuable insights and refine their skills for the national competition. Stay tuned for the results of the competitions.
Daniel Rhodes
Diving into the diverse field of Agribusiness without prior experience before coming to Brigham Young University - Idaho, Daniel Rhodes has excelled in securing five different internship positions. He credits his success to networking with industry professionals at career fairs, advice from professors, and seeking guidance from our savior Jesus Christ.
From working as a Loan Officer Trainee at the USDA Farm Service Agency to providing agronomy support at Valley Agronomics, LLC, Daniel has consistently set himself apart by taking on additional responsibilities. His dedication to following and living by the principles of the Word of Wisdom has rewarded him tremendously, spiritually and physically.
One of his proudest accomplishments was at the USDA Farm Service Agency, where he and another intern conducted a series of farm loan risk portfolio assessments across 16 service centers. They successfully learned all the protocols and procedures necessary for these evaluations and identified key areas for improvement to lower portfolio risk within a year.
Through confidence and determination, Daniel encourages students to step outside their comfort zones, embrace learning opportunities, and actively contribute to shaping the agriculture industry's future.
Francis Badoo
From working as an Aggregations Intern in Israel to serving as a Crop Advisor for Bingham Ag Services, Francis Badoo exemplifies integrity, hard work, and discipleship in agribusiness.
While studying at the University of Ghana, he secured a year-long internship with Yazamut ve Proyektim, where he oversaw seven farms managing 50,000 chickens. His responsibilities included ensuring high productivity levels, monitoring livestock health, and reporting on overall farm efficiency.
At Brigham Young University - Idaho, Francis continued to build his expertise, landing a six-month internship as a Crop Advisor for Bingham Ag Services. He worked closely with wheat, corn, and sugar beets, scouting fields for pests, weeds, and diseases to improve crop yields.
One of his most impactful contributions came during his time in Israel, where he researched the effects of ambient temperature on poultry growth. His findings led to a strategic proposal to plant trees around the chicken barns to effectively lower temperatures in the barns. The management team recognized the value of his insights and successfully implemented his recommendations.
Francis’ dedication to agriculture and problem-solving showcases the real-world impact of agribusiness education and hands-on experience
Economics:
Elizabeth Matute
Elizabeth Matute was initially accepted to Texas A&M, but she ultimately decided to decline her admission offer in favor of Brigham Young University - Idaho. She wanted to pursue an education in an environment driven by passion and growth as well as supported by the dedicated faculty at BYU-Idaho. While at Rexburg, she received personalized support from professors who made her feel valued. This was a factor that was crucial to her decision.
Through her studies, she has developed important skills such as analytical thinking and policy analysis, which have broadened her perspective on global issues. She believes that education is the most valuable asset that no one can take from you, and economics has empowered her to approach problems critically. While studying economics, she also learned the importance of networking and seeking feedback from professionals.
Her experience at BYU-I has been enriching as she is surrounded by individuals who strive to live Christlike values. It has provided her with a strong sense of belonging. She believes that every student should take at least one economics course to better understand how the country functions and identify where they can contribute value.
Financial:
Rafael Silva
When Rafael Silva visited a STEM career fair in Salt Lake City, he knew it was promoted specifically to engineers, but that didn’t stop him from going. Stepping outside his comfort zone and networking with professionals at the career fair ultimately led him to an incredible opportunity: a finance and accounting internship at Nucor Corporation in South Carolina.
At Nucor, Silva found a workplace that aligned with his values. He embraced feedback, took on challenges, and collaborated with five other interns to develop a cost-tracking system that helps predict potential incidents across every division. This project directly supported Nucor’s mission of becoming the safest steel company in the world.
Silva’s experience shows the power of learning, adapting, and putting yourself in the right rooms, even if they aren’t meant for you at first. As he says, “You can learn everything you want; it just depends on you.