School: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Major: Agricultural and Consumer Economics

Thaddeus Bergschneider is studying Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a James Scholar and will graduate in 2028. He interned with John Deere on the Production & Precision Ag Go-to-Market team in 2026 and will intern with the Investor Relations team in 2027. Previously, he served as the 2024–2025 National FFA President, delivering speeches to audiences exceeding 50,000 people and co-chairing the National FFA Board of Directors.

Thad grew up on his family’s row-crop and livestock operation in central Illinois, where they farm corn and soybeans and raise 200 head of feeder cattle. In addition to his career interest in agricultural finance and capital allocation, Thad enjoys reading behavioral economics, history, and Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Letters.