“What’s one more thing I can do today that’s going to make the Mid America CropLife Association more beneficial to overall agriculture?”
That’s the question Rodney Schmidt asks himself every day as he steps into his new role as Executive Director of the MidAmerica CropLife Association (MACA). It’s a simple but powerful mindset that drives Schmidt’s vision for the organization and his commitment to making a difference in agriculture.
Rodney officially started his new position on January 1, 2025, taking over from Bonnie McCarvel, who retired after nearly three decades of dedicated service.
It’s a big role, but Schmidt is no stranger to agriculture—or MACA.
Born and raised on a farm near St. Louis, Schmidt has been immersed in the crop protection industry since 1983. Over the years, he has worked in sales, product management, asset management, and account management across several states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina, Minnesota and Indiana. His career and background in agriculture has given him a wealth of experience and a broad perspective on the industry. His passion for agriculture advocacy was also the bridge that connected him to MACA as an association and the personal and professional network he has developed within the MACA membership.
Schmidt’s connection to MACA goes back almost two decades. He first got involved through the CropLife Ambassador Network, where he gave in-classroom presentations that connected kids from kindergarten through sixth grade with modern agriculture.
“I gave presentations to literally hundreds of kids every year, in Minnesota where I lived. I’ve had a lot of fun with that program over them years, and during the five- or six-year period I was involved, I talked to more than 2000 kids teaching them about agriculture,” he says with a smile.
One of Schmidt’s most memorable experiences was speaking at an inner-city school in Gary, Indiana. “The kids were so eager to learn,” he remembers. “It was just so gratifying to see their curiosity and excitement about farming.”
His passion for education and modern agriculture advocacy are two pillars Schmidt plans to carry forward in his new role. Education will continue to be an important focus for MACA under Schmidt’s leadership. The organization has shifted its approach in recent years, moving from in-person school visits to supporting teachers with grants to create agriculture-focused curricula. Programs like Developing Professionals and the Young Leader Scholarship Program are also helping prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders.
For Schmidt, these initiatives are about more than just teaching—they’re about building connections and inspiring people to see the value of agriculture.
Networking is another area Schmidt feels MACA adds immense value for young and seasoned professionals, alike. He credits MACA with helping him build lasting relationships throughout his career. “Agriculture is such a small world,” he says. “The connections you make today will follow you throughout your career, and the opportunities we continue to build for our Young Leaders Scholarship Program recipients and Developing Professionals cohorts strengthen their network.”
These are MACA attributes Schmidt plans to expand through outreach efforts that will, hopefully, attract new members while continuing to provide value for existing membership.
“The future of MACA is also the future of our industry. These are the people who will be running our agriculture businesses in the next decade,” he shares. “Our investment in them now is securing the future of agriculture.”
Welcome, Rodney!