When Generations Talk, Agriculture Grows
Simple conversations between experience and innovation can change the future of our industry.
The Communication Gap
A 2024 Fortune report revealed that 1 in 5 Gen Z workers haven’t had a single direct conversation with someone over 50 in the past year. Many said they simply “don’t know what to talk about.”
In most industries, that’s concerning.
In agriculture, it’s critical. Ours is a people-driven industry where hands-on learning, mentorship, and generational knowledge transfer keep the system running. When those conversations stop, we lose experience, connection, and future leaders.
Why It Matters
Agriculture succeeds when experience meets innovation.
If generations aren’t talking, we lose the opportunity to blend both.
Veterans hold the context, relationships, and judgment built over decades.
Emerging professionals bring tech fluency, fresh ideas, and optimism.
The challenge isn’t that we’re different. We simply aren’t creating space for meaningful conversations.
What Amplivare Is Doing
At Amplivare, we’re helping bridge this divide through partnerships and intentional design.
Building the Advisory Committee at Cal Poly, SLO
As the Chair of the Plant Sciences Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Advisory Committee, we work diligently to connect students and faculty, with industry professionals. The focus: strengthen career pathways, foster mentorship, and spark honest, cross-generational dialogue. Currently, we are launching our first ever mentorship program where we are partnering a dozen students with Advisory committee members. Mentors will meet with their mentee quarterly, at a minimum, and offer to support students as they wrap up their college education and prepare to enter the workforce. This will be less focused on interview and resume prep and more geared toward business acumen and how to set yourself up for success.
Evening With Industry Events
Over the past two years, Amplivare has facilitated Evening With Industry events at Cal Poly, Modesto Junior College, and San Joaquin Delta College — connecting students and employers in real conversations that build understanding beyond résumés and job titles. We break bread, share stories, ask questions and enjoy conversation.
Consulting & Leadership Development
Our leadership programs intentionally blend generations on project teams, encourage reverse mentoring, and teach how to ask the right questions across experience levels. We focus on not only how we can improve individually, but as a team. We do this through setting intentional curriculum, create space for open conversations, embracing our strengths and leaning into what challenges us.
How to Bridge the Gap
For Gen Z
Ask questions, even when you’re unsure. Curiosity builds trust.
Show respect for experience. Acknowledge what came before you.
Go beyond screens. Walk the field, sit in the shop, or talk face-to-face.
Ask someone over 50:
“What’s one lesson you wish someone had told you early in your career?”
“How has this industry changed most in your lifetime?”
“What’s one thing you still love about this work after all these years?”
“What career advice do you have for me?”
For Gen X & Boomers
Share the ‘why,’ not just the ‘how.’ Connect the dots to meaning and purpose.
Invite, don’t instruct. Ask for input before offering advice.
Avoid assumptions. Curiosity keeps the door open — criticism closes it.
Ask someone from Gen Z:
“What’s one new idea or tool you’re excited to use in your work?”
“How do you prefer to get feedback or guidance?”
“What motivates you to stay engaged and grow in this field?”
Don’t say negative comments. Here are a few that have been shared with early career professionals that should be avoided:
“Your generation is lazy!”
“You spend too much time (on your phone, watching Netflix, etc.).
“You are cute and smart! Why would you want to pursue this as your career?” Yes, this was actually said to my daughter on the first day of her internship!
Moving Forward
When generations talk, agriculture grows.
The data tells us there’s a divide, but the solution is simple: face-to-face connection. With intention, we can rebuild the bridge between experience and innovation — and strengthen agriculture’s leadership pipeline in the process.
At Amplivare, we’re proud to be part of that bridge — connecting students, educators, and employers so every conversation helps grow the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Although most Gen Zers surveyed reported that communicating with their wider team would improve their productivity and learning, 64% are waiting for their company to do more to encourage intergenerational collaboration.
At Amplivare, this is our playground. We thrive in connecting with teams, creating goals alongside you and celebrating YOUR wins!