A Successful Career isn’t always a Straight Line

When most of us imagine a “successful career,” we picture a straight line—one job leading neatly to the next. But for many professionals in agriculture, the real story looks a lot more like a winding gravel road: full of turns, detours, unexpected opportunities, and the occasional bump.

Austin Todd’s journey is exactly that kind of story—one that proves you can take multiple career paths, shift directions completely, face challenges, and still build a meaningful and rewarding career in agriculture.

Today, Austin is a Territory Manager with SQM, covering a large portion of the central United States. But the path that brought him there shows just how valuable flexibility, curiosity, and persistence can be.

After graduating from Texas A&M with a degree in agricultural science, Austin began his career at Bayer Crop Science, working in research and technical development.

This early exposure gave him a deep understanding of how ag innovations move from plan to field—and a strong foundation for every role that came after.

Through these experiences, Austin realized his true passion: communicating, educating, and helping others succeed. He discovered he wanted to work in ag sales long?term—an area where his speaking, teaching, and relationship?building skills could shine.

That realization led him to his next career chapter.

Austin transitioned into a sales trainee and agronomist role with Wilbur?Ellis, where he began supporting growers more directly. But like many people in the industry, he faced unexpected challenges when the company went through internal changes—ultimately resulting in a layoff.

And then, later, another layoff at a different company due to international market shifts.
Life transitions (including becoming a parent) made these changes even more difficult.

Instead of giving up, Austin adapted.

He built a daily routine.
He stayed active in his job search.
He connected with his network.
And—importantly—he used AgCareers.com as a resource to learn what jobs were out there, what companies were hiring, and what people in his skillset were worth.

“AgCareers.com helped me understand my value,” he shared—allowing him to avoid undervaluing himself or settling for roles that didn’t align with his abilities.

Through determination (and lots of applications), Austin found roles with Climate FieldView and later with Gradable. These roles expanded his skill set even further, from customer relationships to regulatory requirements.

He even found contract work and long?term professional connections through the relationships these roles created.

His final transition—into his current position at SQM—came through LinkedIn outreach. His diverse background made him stand out as someone capable of building new territories and handling complex business growth.

What makes Austin’s story powerful is not that he followed one perfect path—it’s that he didn’t.

He explored.
He adapted.
He learned what he liked—and what he didn’t.
He built skills across research, agronomy, sustainability, remote work, sales, and leadership.

And most importantly:
He succeeded because of his winding path, not in spite of it.

His experience is a reminder that:

 1. Your first job doesn’t determine your entire future.

2. Career setbacks don’t define you.

3. Your skills are more valuable than you think.

 4. You’re allowed to reinvent yourself.

Even if you feel “new” in one area, past experiences help you stand out in another.

Based on his experiences, Austin encourages job seekers to:

1. Stay aware of your professional value

2. Keep exploring new opportunities—always

Even when not actively job hunting, he regularly checked roles to understand where the industry was heading.

3. Build a network

Former colleagues and recruiters played a major role in his transitions.

4. Know your strengths and use them

Inspiring the Next Generation of Ag Professionals

Austin’s journey is a testament to what’s possible in agriculture. A career in this industry can take you across companies, roles, states, and skill sets—but each step builds on the last.

Whether you’re a student exploring your first job, a young professional searching for the right fit, or someone considering a career pivot, remember:

You don’t need a perfect path. You just need to keep moving.

Your strengths, your experiences, and your willingness to grow will take you farther than you think.

And along the way, platforms like AgCareers.com are here to support you—whether you’re searching for your next role, exploring new possibilities, or simply discovering your worth in the industry.