Innovators and entrepreneurs can have lasting impacts in nearly any industry, but with shocks coming from external global factors, internal production disruptions and the effects of the pandemic, the issue of supply chain management has become critical in Agricultural Entrepreneurship education.
When it comes to boosting the value of entrepreneurial education, establishing close ties to industry and lasting partnerships enrichens the student experience. A key partner of our Agribusiness Clinic for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Analysis is Fastenal. Fastenal has been at the forefront of supply chain management and students within the Agricultural Business Management program and Agricultural Entrepreneurship minor have excelled in internships and careers with this leader in the supply chain industry.
Matt Moore, District Sales Manager at Fastenal, had this to say regarding the importance of educating entrepreneurial skills to the next generation of business leaders and their impact on the workplace, “Companies that have an enterprise-wide culture of innovation and entrepreneurship allow themselves to adapt to market changes, stay competitive within their segment and lead the way on sustained profitable growth.”
Students within the ABM program and Agricultural Entrepreneurship minor were welcomed by Moore and others to Fastenal’s location in Raleigh to learn more about how the supply chain industry has changed and where innovation and entrepreneurship fit into sound strategy. The move away from brick-and-mortar stores to directly supplying consumers has been a shift within the supply chain world and educating the issues and needs for supply chain management has proven more vital than ever.
Students interested in expanding their education to learn more about supply chain impacts within North Carolina’s largest industry can take courses in 1) Agricultural Exports and Supply Chain and a deep dive into 2) Agribusiness/Food Supply Chain. The former is currently offered to students this semester and the latter will be available for students to enroll for Summer Session II and Fall 2024. Courses are offered regularly and students from all disciplines are encouraged to take them and improve their education about supply chain impacts on agriculture and industry relationships.
Students interested in adding the Agricultural Entrepreneurship minor or more involved with the Agribusiness Clinic for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Economic Analysis should reach out to the Student Clinic Manager, Seeby Jarvis-Earle, at fsjarvis@ncsu.edu.
