During his time as a Holly Pond FFA member, Evan Roden competed in numerous National FFA Career Development Events. Photo by Jennifer Culp/810 Studio.
Evan Roden loves agriculture and computers, so he set his sights on a career that would allow him to merge these passions. The fifth-generation sheep and cattle rancher from Holly Pond, Ala., decided to pursue a path focused in agriculture cybersecurity.
“Agriculture has been a huge part of my foundation, and I’ve been wanting to learn the behind the scenes about technology for so long,” says Evan Roden.
The Holly Pond FFA member and 2024 Outstanding FFA Member of Cullman County hopes to work for a large producer, such as Tyson Foods, and protect its food chain from cyber attacks. It’s a role that could involve assessing threats to smart technologies and distribution networks, implementing technologies to mitigate risk and ensuring the food system’s safety.
According to Evan’s father, Rusty Roden, who serves as the Holly Pond FFA advisor, there’s a growing need for agriculture cybersecurity professionals. “As we grow into a larger population, [cybersecurity] is something that’s super important,” he says. “We know agriculture is the backbone of our society and food safety is important to everyone.”
Evan Roden plans to attend Wallace Community College, then transfer to Auburn University during his sophomore year to major in agricultural economics with a minor in cybersecurity. Until then, he’s focused on building skills as he shows sheep and participates in the Livestock Evaluation and Meats Evaluation and Technology Career Development Events (CDEs) in FFA.
“Showing has been one of [my] main priorities,” Evan Roden says. “It’s continued to help me grow as an individual. I’ve learned a lot of things in the show ring.”
Evan Roden applies lessons learned in the show ring to other areas of life, including his future career plans. Photo courtesy of Evan Roden.
Up-Close Look at Real-World Applications
Holly Pond FFA also exposed Evan Roden to new opportunities. Last fall, he competed in the Food Science and Technology CDE at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo — an experience he says was “mind blowing.”
The competition required him and his team members to have an in-depth understanding of product development, food presentation and food safety issues. It also included creating a new food product and completing computer-based safety and sanitation activities — allowing Evan Roden to imagine what it would be like to pursue a career in agriculture cybersecurity.
As part of his research into potential careers, Evan Roden learned there’s a growing number of opportunities to combine agriculture with other fields, including technology. He hopes other FFA members will look for creative ways to pursue their passions, too.
An extensive involvement in FFA led to Evan Roden being selected as the Outstanding FFA Member of Cullman County. Photo by Jennifer Culp/810 Studio.
“Never give up,” Evan Roden says. “You’re going to leave a legacy for those who are stepping behind you to go in the position where you’re going to be in the near future.”
Find Your Future
Determining your next step doesn’t have to be difficult. Meet five FFA alums who found success in their chosen career paths in agriculture, then use AgExplorer to continue searching for your perfect fit.
