Chuck Benson, an Illinois FFA alum who served as that state’s FFA president in the 1980s, spends his days as senior manager of marketing at BASF communicating about the complex and exciting world of agriculture. He attributes his ability to understand agriculture industry trends and translate them into stories that help BASF better serve its customers in part to his FFA experiences.
Q : Tell us a little about your background?
A: I grew up outside DeKalb, Ill., and worked in various ag jobs including detasseling corn, a hog farm, chicken farm and baling hay. I majored in ag economics at the University of Illinois.
Q: You’ve held a variety of roles at BASF. Can you describe your career path?
A: My first role was in field sales in Minnesota. I worked in several positions and states before shifting to the corporate office about 25 years ago and have spent most of my career focused on market intelligence and strategy.
Q: What are some of the challenges of your job?
A: Uncertainty and pace. A key portion of my job is to understand the ag market, so the level of volatility does not make it easy. Layer on top of that the speed at which change is occurring. It is difficult to understand what is going to happen this year, let alone three to five years from now. The complexity of agriculture has increased exponentially. But that challenge is rewarding because I am a part of agriculture’s growth.
Q: How did FFA help you prepare for your career?
A: FFA ignited a passion in me for agriculture. Teachers challenged me to take on new responsibilities and leadership positions, eventually leading to a role as a state FFA officer. That experience opened my eyes to all the incredible opportunities in agriculture. I wanted a career that would allow me to learn about agriculture across the United States.
FFA also helped me gain confidence in speaking to large groups and my SAEs [supervised agricultural experiences] gave me the skills to take ownership of a project.
My FFA experience translates directly to every position I’ve held. I take ownership of a project, I deliver messages to diverse audiences and I adapt to changes. Thirty years later, I have spent time in Florida sugarcane fields, Pacific Northwest wheat fields and California pistachio orchards. For a kid who only saw corn and soybeans growing up, it has been an incredible ride.
Q: What advice would you give current FFA members who are looking to set out on a career path like yours?
A: Hold on to your goals loosely but hold on to your passions tightly. While my career path has shifted and changed, I have always been able to promote and share the stories about agriculture.
