Q&A with John Tamayo, FFA Alumnus and Relationship Manager at AgWest
What is your role in the agriculture industry, and what led you to this career?
I am a relationship manager at AgWest Farm Credit in Imperial, CA. In this role, I help provide equipment loans, operating lines of credit and other funding products for farmers and ranchers in the Imperial Valley. What led me to this position was having the opportunity to not only help farmers grow but to help new farmers get started with a farming operation of their own. I was also excited to be a part of AgWest Farm Credit’s mission to help 4-H and FFA thrive.
What specific technical skills have you developed through this experience or any of your relevant past experiences?
The technical skills that I learned through this experience are data analysis to help read and understand financial statements and technical writing when writing reports and documenting customer visits.
What professional or “soft” skills (communication, leadership, adaptability, time management, etc.) have you strengthened the most?
Two skills come into mind: communication and time management. Every day, I speak with farmers, ranchers, and/or their office staff to work on pending loans, lines of credit or renewing their current policy. In my role, it is important to strategically schedule my time wisely to give each farmer that I visit enough dedicated time to both discuss their current operations and their plans to grow.
Can you share a specific moment or responsibility that significantly contributed to your growth from your current or prior positions?
I believe that using my public speaking skills that I learned and enhanced in both FFA and during my time in my California Leadership Farm Bureau class helped me gain more confidence to communicate with local farmers, especially when discussing financial products and talking with state and federal legislators about agricultural issues during legislative fly-ins in Sacramento and Washington D.C.
What feedback from a supervisor or mentor has most influenced your development?
The best feedback that I got from a mentor is that to never fear failure; your biggest successes will come from your biggest failures.
How has hands-on work experience differed from what you learned in the classroom?
Learning by doing has definitely helped me better understand the fundamentals of the agricultural industry and the many sectors of the industry.
How do your current experiences connect to your long-term career goals?
My role at AgWest connects to my long-term goal of supporting the farmers in the Imperial Valley, ensuring their success, and simultaneously, helping support the next generation of agriculturists by supporting our local FFA chapters.
What advice would you give current students about intentionally developing career-ready skills through internships or work experience?
The advice that I would give to current students in internships and work experience is to always ask questions. If you don’t ask questions, you won’t have the full learning opportunity to understand and grow in your field.
Is there one particular extracurricular that has helped you prepare for the future?
While in high school, being a part of the FFA definitely helped prepare me for the future. I often use the lessons and skills I learned through FFA every day of my career. In college and beyond, being involved in the California Farm Bureau and its Young Farmers and Ranchers program was crucial to continuing my development. Through YF&R, we continue to grow our knowledge of the agricultural industry, networking and helping to be their voice in the state and federal legislature.
John Tamayo is currently a relationship manager with AgWest. Prior to joining the team at AgWest, he worked as a sales representative for Rain for Rent, as an irrigation technician, and with the University of California Cooperative Extension as an intern and lab assistant. John gained a degree in Agricultural Systems Management from the University of Arizona, and originates from the Imperial Valley.
