Typical Farm Girl??

Growing up in south central Illinois on a beef cattle operation it is not hard for one to believe that my passion for the agriculture industry began at a very young age. I remember as a toddler I would prance around the house in my dad’s cowboy boots and continuously question my parents on when would I be big enough to show cattle like my older brothers did. Finally, at the age of eight I was allowed to join our local 4-H club and began showing cattle with my four older brothers. While I didn’t always have the grand champion heifer or steer I did learn a great deal from every fair I showed in. I learned the importance of hard work, that with success comes failure, and that family time is something of extreme value.




My farm family up-bringing is what pushed me to join the National FFA Organization in high school, which allowed for me to really grasp what the agriculture industry was and how it included so much more then just cows, sows, and plows.

Upon graduating high school I was honored to be selected to serve the Illinois Association FFA as the State Treasurer. This position allowed for me to postpone my college education to travel the state of Illinois communicating with high school students the importance of the agriculture industry and what they can do to become apart of it.




After completing my year of service to the Illinois FFA I knew that my love for talking and agriculture was something that needed to be apart of my life forever. That is why I chose the University of Illinois’ College of Agricultural, Environmental, and Consumer Sciences as a place where I would receive my education in Agricultural Communications.




The University of Illinois has allowed for me to broaden my agricultural knowledge in so many ways. For example the university gave me the opportunity to go to and study the agriculture industry in Jamaica and Brazil. These two trips allowed for me to see first hand how dynamic the agriculture industry is world wide.




Now, after completing almost two years at the University of Illinois I realize what a perfect fit, not only this university is for me, but my major. The field of agricultural communications allows for me to have the chance to educate others on the industry that I love.


Now, thanks to Monsanto, I will have the opportunity to travel to Nashville, Tennessee to attend the Commodity Classic. At this event I will intermingle with employees from all the major agriculture companies, and see what’s the newest technology and plans are for these companies. I hope you will join me on my CLASSIC ADVENTURE.