WHO IS BLAKE VAN DER KAMP? Senior at Iowa State University triple majoring in Agriculture and Life Sciences Communication, International Agriculture, and Public Relations with a Certificate in Leadership Studies, Blake Van Der Kamp, is seeking to leave a lasting impact on the way youth play a role in promoting agriculture and food security for the world.
Van Der Kamp has a proven international track record for representing the industry. Having fostered his passion through his early involvement with the National FFA Organization as the Iowa FFA State Reporter, he has sought to bring awareness to agricultural education and the hard work of modern producers. In 2020, Blake was awarded one of the nation's highest honors for high school students been named a United States Presidential Scholar for Career & Technical Education by the Department of Education; this award is given to only 20 high school seniors annually across all the country’s school districts. He received this award for creating a high school recycling program that generated an estimated 26,400 lbs of recyclables, a supply drive that provided around $5,000 worth of school supplies to disadvantaged, rural youth, and his overall contributions to agricultural education in his home state of Iowa. |
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More recently, he served as one of five North American delegates at the biennial Bayer Youth Ag Summit. Additionally, he served as a youth panelist and speaker for United States Farmers and Ranchers in Action’s Honor the Harvest Forum with notable industry leaders including but not limited to Vice President of the American Farm Bureau and COP25 High Level Climate Champion. At this event, he highlighted the integral role in which society plays in elevating youth solutions and how youth are part of the future of the industry.
Professionally, Blake has worked in communications for numerous organizations such as Green & Growing Education, Iowa Pinto Horse Association, and the World Food Prize Foundation. In these roles, he has advocated for youth to take ahold of opportunities and brought awareness to how integral agriculturalists are to solving food insecurity. Additionally, he recently assisted with planning and hosting the inaugural state of Iowa’s George Washington Carver Day, where Governor Reynolds and others gathered to celebrate the historical trailblazer.
Finally, Van Der Kamp’s legacy has not stopped with regard to academia. While a triple major, he has held positions as a representative on the University’s Sustainability Committee as well as the Agriculture and Life Sciences Education Department's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. His aspiration to excel have also earned him the title of being a Cargill Thrive and Ronald E. McNair Scholar.
Following graduation, he plans to work full-time in the agricultural communications field while pursuing a master’s in strategic communications at Butler University. Furthermore, Blake Van Der Kamp has taken an active role in promoting agriculture through local, state, and national endeavors and displays a commitment to remain involved in agriculture both professionally and personally.
Professionally, Blake has worked in communications for numerous organizations such as Green & Growing Education, Iowa Pinto Horse Association, and the World Food Prize Foundation. In these roles, he has advocated for youth to take ahold of opportunities and brought awareness to how integral agriculturalists are to solving food insecurity. Additionally, he recently assisted with planning and hosting the inaugural state of Iowa’s George Washington Carver Day, where Governor Reynolds and others gathered to celebrate the historical trailblazer.
Finally, Van Der Kamp’s legacy has not stopped with regard to academia. While a triple major, he has held positions as a representative on the University’s Sustainability Committee as well as the Agriculture and Life Sciences Education Department's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. His aspiration to excel have also earned him the title of being a Cargill Thrive and Ronald E. McNair Scholar.
Following graduation, he plans to work full-time in the agricultural communications field while pursuing a master’s in strategic communications at Butler University. Furthermore, Blake Van Der Kamp has taken an active role in promoting agriculture through local, state, and national endeavors and displays a commitment to remain involved in agriculture both professionally and personally.
Photo Courtesy of the United States Farmer & Ranchers in Action (USFRA)
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HIGHLIGHTED LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES - Directed discussion as a Key Leaders & NextGen Farmers Panelist for the 2022 U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action Honor The Harvest Forum
- Served as Vice President of Ceremonies for the Iowa State University's most prestigious honor society, Cardinal Key - Communicated as the Public Relations Chair for the Order of Omega, one of the ISU Sorority & Fraternity Community's highest honor societies - Liaised as Director of Sustainability on the ISU Student Government & on the President-appointed University Sustainability Committee - Global Bayer Youth Ag Summit Attendee & 2021 Delegate |
HIGHLIGHTED AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS- Recipient of the 2024 Iowa Soybean Association Rising Star Award
- Inducted into ISU's most prestigious honor society, Cardinal Key, in 2022 - Accepted as a member in 2022 for the Order of Omega Honor Society - ISU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs 2022 Rising Star Award Recipient - 2021 Honorary Diamond Trail Chapter FFA Degree Recipient - 2020 U.S. Department of Education Presidential Scholar Awardee in C.T.E - Prairie City Monroe High School Valedictorian for the Class of 2020 |
Photo Courtesy of TPCreations
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Photo Courtesy of the International Acacia Fraternity