Kevin Wright
Senior Research Technician
Dow AgroSciences
Mount Vernon, IN USA
“I took a different route to get here because I was unsure. Unexpectedly, a part-time job ended up becoming a career I loved.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationKevin Wright
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Grew up in Mount Vernon, IN.
Says growing up in the country, playing outside all the time, and tending to the family garden were all factors that sparked his interest in agricultural work.
At 16, he got his first job working out in the fields at the Dow AgroSciences seed station in Mount Vernon.
It was so hot and he got so exhausted his first day on the job that he seriously doubted he wanted to continue—his mother had to convince him to stick it out and he’s been working there ever since.
After that first season, the seed station hired him on part-time, and he worked there throughout high school and college after school in hand harvesting and packaging.
Attended the University of Southern Indiana where he got his degree in business administration and was able to stay close to home.
Admits that, at the time, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to stay in the agricultural industry, so he chose his business administration major as a way of giving himself an out just in case.
Eventually, he realized that he really did love working in the agricultural industry, so he returned to Dow AgroSciences after college and was hired on full-time as the Senior Research Technician.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Senior Research Technician
I manage the summer nursery crews, seed packaging operations, and assist with breeding selections.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Environment & Nature
Science
Teaching / Mentoring
Day to Day
In the summer, I supervise 40-50 local high school students who come in to help us pollinate. Provide breeding support by taking notes in the nursery and making selections. Managed seed packaging operations to ensure trials and nurseries were packaged efficiently and without errors. I travel to winter nurseries to learn germplasm and take notes on key inbred lines.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
Take on leadership roles and responsibilities when the opportunities present themselves. Start getting involved as soon as you can. Volunteer, intern, work summer jobs.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I don't think I can handle working in this environment."
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Interviewed By
State of Change
What's next for Indiana
