Ever since I could walk, I’ve been showing dairy goats. I traveled up and down the west coast with just my family and a trailer to go to goat shows. For my ninth birthday, I received the first goat I could really call my own. Then on, for the past ten years, I have been raising and managing my own herd of over twenty-five dairy goats. As one might imagine, that is no small task; a lot of thought and planning goes into that endeavor. Aside from daily manual tasks of feeding, milking and cleaning, raising a herd of dairy goats is inherently business centered. I am responsible for tracking income and expenses, and deciding when and where to spend money most efficiently. I enjoy the thinking, innovation, and planning that goes into raising livestock, and I enjoy the shows and animals themselves. All of the skills I have developed over the years directly pertain to business, so when it came time for me to choose a college major, I gravitated toward business management because it encompasses all the aspects of managing a herd of dairy goats that I love. Another significant way that agriculture and business have been linked together for me is seeing firsthand how entrepreneurs can run their own businesses. I have worked part-time for the last six years at 4Petesake Goat dairy in Lemoore. Not only do I enjoy my time there as a livestock handler and blood draw technician, but I get to see up close all that goes into running a business. I am very thankful for all the opportunities that I have had to work with animals, and I know that this is the field I want to pursue in the future. Agriculture has been the underlying foundation to almost all the decisions I’ve made in my life. I joined 4-H because I love working with animals, and I developed a love for my community through my involvement in ag. The question has never been about if I want to pursue agriculture, only how I would go about doing it. The agriculture here in Sanger and Fresno as a whole is essential to consider when looking at who I am as a person. I find it invaluable and I know that the agricultural community is the one I want to help grow and thrive. That is impossible without the countless businesses keeping it going, and I believe that is where my skills will best allow me to serve. I want nothing more than to spread the joy I have found participating in livestock shows, visiting packing houses, and so much more. When one takes a closer look, it is astounding how ingrained agriculture is in every aspect of society, and it is worth appreciating and supporting. I have found that it is the ag community that has some of the brightest and most caring individuals, not to mention how they are extremely hard-working. That is something worth reaching for, and it is my ambition to ensure that agriculture is constantly growing and thriving. I believe that I can achieve that goal after graduating with a degree in business at Fresno State, and I appreciate the time you have spent considering my application. I hope that you can help me achieve my dreams for our community.