Finding My Place in Forestry: My Youth Delegate Experience

January 21, 2025

By: Mayowa Aderoju, Biotechnology Intern, Corteva Agriscience and 2024 SFI Annual Conference Youth Delegate

My roots are in agriculture. Growing up, my father who was professionally a mechanical engineer, had a great interest in farming, so I quickly learned the value of agriculture in sustaining families and communities. Two years ago, I traveled over 6,500 miles from Oyo State, Nigeria, to pursue a master’s degree in plant pathology in the United States. My passion for sustainable agriculture eventually led me to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), where I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 2024 SFI Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, as a youth delegate.

Initially, I wasn’t sure if I would fit in at the conference because my educational and career focus was on plant pathology. But I quickly found my place among a diverse group of people from all walks of life, each contributing to sustainability in their own way. The SFI Annual Conference was truly a life-changing experience. It deepened my understanding of sustainable forestry and how it connects to agriculture, a field I’m deeply passionate about. The conference exposed me to key concepts in sustainable forestry and highlighted the roles we can all play in ensuring a sustainable forest for future generations. More than just learning, I felt a profound sense of belonging at the conference. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with open arms and encouraged to step out of my comfort zone.

Networking was a significant highlight of the conference. With encouragement from staff like Dominic Weeks, SFI’s Career Readiness Manager, throughout the conference, I was honored to meet with SFI President’s and CEO, Kathy Abusow, and interact with industry CEOs, founders, executive directors, and stakeholders, all of whom shared a common vision for sustainable forestry. I was lucky to have Ann Duff of WestRock as my mentor during the SFI conference. She really emphasized the community aspect of the conference, and her guidance was precious. We have since become close friends and stay in touch regularly. These connections opened future opportunities for collaboration and helped me see how I could apply my plant pathology background to forestry, particularly in disease management.

However, as much as I appreciated the networking opportunities at the conference, meeting my fellow youth delegates was my favorite part. We each brought unique perspectives and career aspirations, making our discussions intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding.

One of the main things I took away from the conference was how SFI promotes inclusion and community. The conference helped me see that forestry is about more than just trees and wildlife—it’s a complex, interconnected community that needs protection and depends on people from various career backgrounds (including plant pathology!). This realization has strengthened my passion to contribute to sustainable agriculture and forestry.

As I continue my journey, I am more committed than ever to becoming a seasoned researcher in plant health and an advocate for sustainable agriculture. The SFI Annual Conference showed me that with a shared vision for sustainability, we all have a role to play, regardless of our backgrounds. I look forward to contributing to a sustainable future in agriculture and forestry while drawing on the professional network and knowledge I’ve gained from SFI.