The Seed S
cience Center is proud to share that Ben Alexandrowicz, a graduate student in Iowa State University’s Seed Technology and Business (STB) program, has been selected by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) to receive a scholarship to attend the ASTA Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., June 8–11.
Ben, who began the STB program in Spring 2023, has already earned his Graduate Certificate in Seed Science and Technology and is now working toward completing his Master’s degree. For Ben, the STB program offered a rare combination of flexibility, specialization, and academic rigor.
“I work a demanding schedule and was looking for a program that I could complete at my own pace,” he said. “I knew I wanted to study seed science, and there aren’t many options out there that are accredited, available online, and specific to seed.”
Ben currently works at Silvaseed Company in Washington State, where he wears multiple hats in the seed industry. “I grow bareroot conifer seedlings for reforestation, Christmas trees, and ecological restoration,” he explained. “I also manage cone collections and seed processing for native conifers—driving all over the Pacific Northwest in the summer to track and collect quality seed cones.”
In addition to his fieldwork, Ben is developing a “how-to” guide on the wild collection of native seed for his creative component in the STB program. “Many of the people collecting seed in my role are members of the public. Because of that, we see a wide range in collection quality and land stewardship. My guide aims to provide best practices for ethical, effective seed collection.” Ben plans to adapt his original concept to fit the geography and practices of a new position he’ll be transitioning into soon.
As a scholarship recipient, Ben is especially excited to represent Iowa State University at the ASTA Leadership Summit and to gain a deeper understanding of the policy side of the seed industry.
“I hope to learn about the policy side of the seed business and advocate for native plant seed,” he said. “I’m looking forward to meeting a bunch of folks and incorporating what I learn into my current work and future career.”
Tapping into his trademark humor, Ben added: “Since I’m somewhere between a farmer and a forester for work, I’m not sure I’ll meet the dress code from what I’ve seen in photos—but I’ll do my best to represent Iowa State University the best I can!”
Congratulations, Ben—we’re proud to have you in the STB program and representing ISU at the national level!
