"I think using animals for food is an ethical thing to do, but we've got to do it right. We've got to give those animals a decent life, and we've got to give them a painless death. We owe the animal respect" -Temple Grandin. I can't think of a better way to describe the beautiful relationship between animals and humans. This standard is a large part of why I want to become a large animal veterinarian. I've had a love for science, animals, and agriculture since I can remember. I want to spend my life, not working, but pursuing my passions daily. I can't say I came to this conclusion all on my own. The agriculture industry is my family's livelihood. I would wake up at five in the morning to ride with my dad to the airport. Don't picture a modern, commercial and sanitized airport full of world travelers. Picture a one room building with a couple chairs and a centuries old couch. Picture a crop-dusting airport. Every morning before the sun came up, we'd head out and start our day. Since my grandpa owned the business, that meant I owned it too. I felt like part of the team using the radio and driving around in my battery-powered ranger "checking the hangers." I loved my time spent at the airport and loved hearing the pilot tell me about his adventures flying the plane. I was introduced to agriculture through the crops side, but what really hooked me was the animals. My mother was often concerned for me when I was younger. Nevertheless, she would let me watch The Incredible Dr. Pol after enough begging. I can't tell you exactly why I was captivated by vets at such a young age, but maybe it was because I had the opportunity to raise animals in the country. Cats, dogs, lizards, and horses are only some of the animals I've gotten to care for, but cattle somehow stole my heart. I started raising show steers in the third grade, so I guess it's not much of a surprise after all. Branding days at my family ranch only inflamed my curiosity about the cattle industry. After nine years of raising show cattle, I've branched out. I've toured dairies and admired the technological advancements they've made within their industry. Tackling agricultural issues in public speaking, and studying multiple species to better understand the quality of an animal are only a few skills I've picked up through FFA. I also decided to be a Texas 4-H Livestock ambassador to advocate for the industry I've grown to love. Smelling the dairy every time I drive by may not sound very exciting, but it has been a blessing in disgiuse. My small town is surrounded by local dairies and feedlots that have made many outreach efforts. Thanks to their dedication, I have bee able to complete the dairy honors program and become a Texas 4-H Livestock ambassador. Being able to tour these cattle facilities, see their inner workings, and witness first person the strides they have made to keep up with growing demands solidified my desire to be a part of it. As I said earlier, I believe that these animals should be treated with respect. We should strive to give them a good quality of life not only for industry efficiency, but because we owe it to them. I want to be a veterinarian to improve the livestock industry, animal welfare, and myself.

I love agriculture. Though I tend to lean more towards the animal side, I’m a supporter of it all. I don’t just want to get my job and look out for me, I want to be an intentional contributor to the Ag industry. I want to be an ambassador and an example for Ag. My years showing cattle has taught me what it means to be, as my school calls us, “an Ag kid”. These are the kids who can show up to a formal event to deliver a speech and turn around to clean livestock pens in muck boots minutes later. We’re the best of both worlds. We use our leadership skills to advocate for our passion. However, being in such a close-knit community also means many people don’t understand our way of life. I’ve seen too many posts and protests against agricultural practices that people usually don’t know much about. The average consumer has little knowledge of where their food came from or how it got to their plate, all they know is the posts they see on social media posts saying things like “meat is murder”. Through my experience as a Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador, I’ve gotten to connect with others who want to change that negative image. Through 4-H and FFA, I have had the chance to tackle Agricultural issues and relate them to the general public. Together with local agriculture organizations, I have been able to educate and serve my community. Whether it be volunteering to work a show, setting up a station at a clinic, or even sparking up a conversation about the importance of agriculture with a stranger. It always amazes me when I tell people common facts and it is received with shock. In the words of Norman Borlaug, Father of the Green Revolution and Nobel Prize winner, "Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply." Agriculture is the backbone of society, without its advancements, nothing we have today would've been accomplished. This is why I believe in the importance of consumer awareness, especially the youth. My favorite way to impact consumers is through major stock shows. Houston in particular does an excellent job of introducing Ag to urban communities. They have stations set up to learn about dairy, swine, cattle and more. The best part is, the stations are in the cattle barn. This means people usually wander over to our stalls and find themselves in awe of our steers. I always enjoy taking little kids up to pet them and have had some great one-on-one conversations with people about my daily life and agriculture. While I do work with many different organizations to contribute to my community, agriculture is hands down my priority. I intend to continue my efforts to support my industry throughout college and my professional career. I advocate for agriculture, as the 4-H pledge says, “for my club, my community, my country, and my world.”