Redbirds win first place in global agribusiness case study competition

In June 2024, the team of six undergraduate students from Illinois State University’s Agriculture and International Business programs participated in the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Conference and Global Student Case Competition in Almeria, Spain. Not only did they represent our university, but the team also won first place in the undergraduate division of the IFAMA Global Case Competition!

The ISU IFAMA team was formed in February and began preparing for the competition in March 2024. The team consisted of four agriculture students – Brandt Faivre, Rodney Billerbeck, Patrick Collins and Samuel Berry – and two international business students – Leo Krueger and Riley Pruser – who were advised by Dr. Iuliia Tetteh (Agriculture, senior advisor), Barb Ribbens (International Business, co-advisor) and Aslihan Spaulding (Agriculture, co-advisor). “We recruited students from different programs to bring together different backgrounds, personalities, strengths and ideas because complex challenges require innovative and diverse ways of thinking. And we are so glad we chose this strategy,” said Dr. Tetteh.

The team met once a week from late March to early June to share ideas and analyze several case studies. To get a better feel for the process, the IFAMA team completed a simulated round of the competition on June 1. They had four hours to analyze the case and then present it to an audience of agribusiness leaders, alumni, and friends of the Agriculture and International Business programs. This opportunity helped the students practice solving the case in a limited time period to get valuable feedback from the audience. The simulated experience also made the team curious about the journey ahead and all the opportunities that awaited them there.

The ISU IFAMA team competed in Almeria with more than 20 other teams from over nine countries to analyze a new case focused on sustainability issues in the seed industry and the role of the International Seed Federation in such initiatives. Competitors our team defeated included teams from land-grant universities such as Kansas State and the University of Illinois.

“In a few years, the plaques may become just another item in a storage box, but I know this memory we all share will stay with us for the rest of our lives,” said Rodney Billerbeck, a junior studying agricultural science. This opportunity was funded entirely by generous donors – Dr. Iris and Dr. Carson Varner are long-time advocates for international business and the food and agriculture industries. Stay tuned for details on the Celebrate the Success night with the ISU IFAMA team in late September, to learn more about their experience in Almeria, next year’s venue, and ways to support the ISU IFAMA team in 2025!