The lush terrain of the Rocky Mountain range in Montana is home to Cody Shick, a 2024 graduate of the Oklahoma State University Master of International Agriculture Program.

Shick earned a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University in 2018 before moving to Longmont, Colorado, to pursue a job opportunity with Molson Coors, a Canadian-American beverage company.

At that same time, Shick said his interest in international agriculture prompted him to pursue an online master’s degree as he began his first job with Molson Coors.

“OSU was a perfect situation for me because it was cost-effective and flexible,” Shick said.

The program allowed him to continue his work at Molson Coors, which required him to move back to Montana when he was promoted to regional manager, he added.

Shick is an incredible leader with a strong work ethic, said Wade Malchow, Shick’s former supervisor who recently retired as Molson Coors’ senior barley program manager.

“Cody always goes above and beyond,” Malchow said. “He was always actively and vivaciously looking for development opportunities to become a better leader.”

Those same qualities were apparent in Shick’s work as a graduate student.

Shick’s academic work ethic made him stand out among other students, said Karl Rich, former MIAP director and Shick’s adviser.

“He could come up with goals and know how to get it done,” Rich said. “Some students have to grow into that type of independence, but Cody was just ready to go.”

The MIAP capstone project allowed Shick to pursue his first independent project with Molson Coors, a plan for the construction of grain elevators in Alberta, Canada.

“It is a little bit intimidating anytime you get a big project like this,” Shick said. “It’s career-defining when you get to potentially execute such a large project.”

Shick has the ability to accomplish challenging tasks because of his unique personality, Malchow said.

Shick can be described as a Type A personality with a twist, combining strong drive with a collaborative approach, he added.

“He wants every project to hit its milestones,” Malchow said. “At the same time, he still keeps his fun-loving, laid-back attitude, while staying approachable.”

Shick’s drive toward success and impact was evident during his time with MIAP, Rich said.

“You can just tell he wanted to make some sort of impact,” Rich said.

Shick said he realized his project had the potential for real-world impact. However, it came with challenges, especially related to coordination and planning, he said.

“You’re relying on companies, other business partners in Canada, or casting a large net to try to understand anything you can,” he said.

While the project’s challenges were not uncommon, Shick’s drive separated him from others, Rich said.

“When Cody had questions, he always put his head down to find solutions, and that is very responsible and mature,” Rich said.

Shick is adaptable and has a determination to learn, Malchow said.

“Cody is always looking for resources, feedback and reading books just to get better as a leader,” he said.

Shick said the project required him to coordinate with Canadian builders and government officials while also having a thorough understanding of Canadian regulations.

One of the goals was to provide financial consistency to local farmers, he added.

“There’s a sense of pride farmers feel when they’ve grown a product and can immediately see the effects of it,” Shick said.

As a vertically integrated company, Canadian growers sell their barley and see the end product when they crack open a can, he said.

Shick’s MIAP project was originally designed as a capstone, but it made a lasting personal impression on him, Shick said.

“That money is paying their bills, sending their kids to college and helping keep their businesses healthy,” Shick said.

Shick has always been personable, which makes him strong in his career, Malchow said.

“Being able to build those strong personal relationships is vitally important, and Cody always could do that,” he said.

Shick also has an old-soul personality, which further adds to his ability to connect with a variety of producers, Malchow added.

Although the project is still ongoing and requires further approval, Shick said he used his time in MIAP to his advantage.

“I challenged myself to take other classes outside of MIAP,” he said. “You learn more from challenging yourself to do different things,” he added.

Shick’s mission to challenge himself is a reflection of his experience and independence, Rich said.

Shick’s experience with Molson Coors taught him how to see an opportunity and seize it, he added.

Regardless of any challenges, Shick consistently sought out opportunities because of his drive, Malchow said.

“He’s always been a ‘let’s get it done’ kind of guy,” he added. “To be as career-minded as Cody and still get that done is very impressive.”

Shick balanced a heavy workload while still fulfilling academic requirements at school and responsibilities at home, Malchow added.

Shick said MIAP provided him with an opportunity to challenge himself educationally while expanding his worldview from the comfort of his home state.

“I had the chance to live in a place I absolutely love while being able to do something in a different country all at the same time,” he said.

As a Montana native who enjoys the ambiance of rural Montana, Shick said he is grateful for the opportunities MIAP has provided him.

Shick also found gratitude in being able to expand his understanding of international agriculture in a unique way, he added.

“There are so many differences in agriculture as a whole, but having the opportunity to broaden my view and have a wider impact is really special,” Shick said.

While there is still work to do, Shick said he is ready to put his plan into action and watch the sun set another day in the towering Rocky Mountains of Montana.

 Story by Karina Gonzalez | Cowboy Journal