Sam Rickman is a second year MS student in the Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics department at MSU. He obtained his undergraduate degree at CU Boulder, where he majored in environmental studies and double-minored in atmospheric sciences and evolutionary biology. He worked in the private sector for three years after graduating, where he took on high-profile projects like financial analysis and strategic planning for the federal government, macroeconomic analysis on behalf of community-oriented non-profits, and community engagement for large-scale projects in public utilities. He also conducted free-lance consulting work during the summer between his first and second years in the MS program, writing the strategic plan for a department under the Architect of the Capitol in Washington D.C.

 

Sam’s research at MSU explores technology innovation and adoption in commodity industries. He interviewed dozens of farmers, nutritionists, processing plants, and researchers to understand local stakeholder perspective on the market potential of high-oleic soybean technology; he is now working to implement a related survey/experiment. Sam actively organized extension visits, giving AFRE students field-based educational opportunities.

 

Sam graduates in the summer of 2025, and is exploring career opportunities in the food and agriculture industry. 

​