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AI in Ag and Healthcare Ignites Curiosity at 4-H National Summit

Bayer workshops about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture and healthcare generated enthusiastic participation, as a record turnout of teens from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for the annual 4-H Ignite Summit.

From March 25-29, more than 1,800 participants gathered in Washington, D.C., for the National 4-H Ignite Summit, an annual gathering focused on career exploration and readiness. For four days, teens from all over the country immersed themselves in hands-on workshops, experiences, and activities to become “Beyond Ready” for the opportunities and challenges of the future.

1,800 attendees pack the ballroom at the Hilton in Washington D.C. for the 4-H Ignite Summit.

As has become an annual tradition, leaders from Bayer attended the Ignite Summit to host workshops and participate in the Career Connections Expo with teens. The two workshops about AI were a hit with participants.

Bayer’s Jonathan Ernst (4-H Engagement Lead and Deputy Director of Strategic and Digital Communications) and Robson Monastier (Agronomic Digital Innovation Lead) discussed the many ways that AI is used in Crop Science and in healthcare at Bayer and the skills needed to work in a modern digital environment. The participants also brought up the many ethical, sustainability, and technical implications of using AI and what it would mean for their future careers.

We gave 4-H a menu of things we could address for our workshop and this year it was our work with AI and the skills needed to effectively work with these tools that rose to the top. Both sessions ended over the time allotted. That’s how many questions and how much engagement we had from the teens. It was a great turnout and enthusiasm. We could have gone on for probably three more hours.

Jonathan Ernst

4-H Engagement Lead and Deputy Director of Strategic and Digital Communications

AI tools like Bayer's E.L.Y. are changing the way employees at Bayer work, and the students asked a lot of questions to learn more.

“It was a great experience connecting with such a curious and engaged group of 4-H students. Programs like 4-H bring together some of the most motivated young students across the U.S., and it was exciting to share how we are applying Gen AI at Bayer, especially through tools like E.L.Y., to better support our teams and farmers in the field.”

Team Bayer at the 4-H Spark Celebration at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. From left: Ben Kampelman, Erick Lutt, Jonathan Ernst, Robson Monastier, and Monica McBride.

Colleagues from Bayer’s Washington, D.C., office participated in the Career Connections networking event, where teens receive mentoring about the hard and soft skills needed for their future careers.

Bayer’s partnership with 4-H creates value for everyone involved, allowing students to develop the skills to be successful in their careers and giving Bayer the opportunity to make meaningful connections with the next generation of leaders.

“Young people need this connection with industry to learn how to navigate and seize opportunities. When companies like Bayer show up willing to engage with teens it truly makes a difference for our neighborhoods, communities, our businesses, and our future,” Jonathan said. “I am proud to work for a company that shares these values and invests in the next generation.”