My boots sink into the mud, the gate is cold in my hands, and it won't open when I hear, "They're coming towards you!" This is the last thing I need. We're trying to get cows into the round pen, but it's so muddy I can't move, and the gate won't open either. Finally, I get it open, and our show cows run in before I shut the gate back behind them. Oddly enough, this is the experience that hooked me. My freshman year of high school, I was extremely shy. By God's grace, my agriculture teacher had an extra heifer to be shown at our county event, and she asked me to do it. Now, I had no clue showing even existed until a conversation with my ag teacher. She explained, "All you do is walk the cow around in the show pen and maintain eye contact with the judge, who is looking at your heifer and the other 4 or 5 in there with you." Simple enough. What she didn't tell me, though, is the hours spent with the cow to even make it walk. She is just one of the many people I've met through agriculture and FFA who have made a large impact on my life. She introduced me to showing, which showed me the value of hard work, competitions that gave me the confidence to speak in front of hundreds of people about agriculture, and most importantly an industry full of good hearted people. Over and over again, I have watched how agriculture touches my life on a daily bases, from the food I eat and the clothes I wear, and people I run into at the grocery store. This has inspired me to pursue a degree in Agricultural Operations. I want to work on a cattle operation and join the less than two percent of Americans who feed our country. In doing so, I hope to partner with local youth organizations like 4-H and FFA to speak about and promote the ag industry while removing stigmas surrounding it. I have continued to hear comments about how I will not make money and women should not be working in agriculture. I believe farming is a calling, and it is not easy. The average age of our farmer is decreasing every year, with fewer young people pursuing this field. Through working with students and being an advocate for agriculture, I hope increase the number of students in the industry and help eliminate the stigma surrounding women in production agriculture and the way our food is produced as a whole. Ultimately, I want to be a voice for the industry that taught me to use mine. By working on a cattle operation, I will produce food for others, fueling my passion for food production, and work within the community to be an advocate for my career. Agriculture is such an essential part of every single person's life, yet it is increasingly misunderstood and underrepresented.

Ever since I was a young child I remember spending hours with my dad and brothers in the hunting stand munching on peanut butter crackers or traipsing through the woods with my eyes peeled for squirrels. Looking back, I now know why we never killed much when I went hunting. And though my interests have changed over the years from hunting squirrels to fishing and from sitting in a deer stand to working with my show cows, I always find myself drawn to the outdoors. Maybe it is because that is where I spent most of my childhood or maybe it’s for the simple fact that the outdoors are my peace on earth. My love for the outdoors has grown with me as I have gotten older and while there are a number of people who have encouraged me to look to agriculture and the outdoors for my future career, two very special people have influenced me the most. Starting my freshman year of high school I was placed in an Agriculture Foundations class in school. This is where I was introduced to my FFA advisor Mrs.Kay. Mrs.Kay constantly pushed me out of my comfort zone and into competitions and conferences that taught me about leadership and team work. One of these competitions was showing cattle and hogs. She introduced me to a side of agriculture I had never seen before and I instantly fell in love. While it can be challenging at times, I throughly enjoy the process of caring for and raising livestock. She introduced me to female agricultural producers in my area and she showed me that there are women who make a living farming and ranching. My step dad has been my second biggest influence. He came into my life at the age of nine. Together we bonded over our love for garden picked cucumbers and freshwater. He is an advocate for conservation and he spends most of his summer on a boat. He may be fishing but most commonly he can be found pulling my siblings and I on the tube and wakeboard on the lake. Through his guidance he showed me that there is no shame in working with your hands or wanting to have a career in something others might call you crazy for. His appreciation for the outdoors helped to teach me the value of the people in the agriculture industry. Through surrounding myself with people who love the outdoors I have found a deeper appreciation for my time spent in the Apalachicola National Forest and River Basin. I will forever cherish the memories I have made working cows for show season, hunting with my dad, and spending time on Lake Seminole with my stepdad. Had I not grown up surrounded by these things I truly believe I would not be pursuing an agricultural degree.

When I was six years old my parents split. I was halfway through first grade at the time. Together my parents had five children and my dad was extremely demeaning and could be abusive. I was required to go to my dad’s every other weekend between the ages of six and eleven. During that time, I received the brunt of most of my dad’s anger. This led to PTSD, shyness, and avoidance of any conflict. I learned to be quiet and stay as far out of the way as possible, including in a classroom setting. I became a bitter and angry child. Going into my freshman year, at 14, I decided to become involved in The National FFA Organization, also known as Future Farmers of America. My FFA advisor constantly pushed me out of my comfort zone and into various competitions with speaking aspects. These competitions included livestock and horse evaluation, extemporaneous speaking, and livestock showing. These competitions helped me grow and find my voice, which in turn allowed me to thrive in the classroom as a student and in societal settings. She transformed a shy kid into a confident leader and helped me find my passion for agriculture and livestock. After my high school graduation I plan to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. Coming from a large family, I anticipate financial obstacles. My parents simply do not have the funds to put me through college. It is my hope that through scholarships, grant programs, and working I will be able to graduate college debt free. I believe that through hard work and dedication I can accomplish this goal. I also anticipate home sickness. Being one of the youngest in my family, I have always had people surrounding me. My siblings and I are very close and I spend a great deal of my time with them. I hope that through participating in school organizations I can form family-like friendships to make this transition easier. I am a firm believer that obstacles and hardships only make us stronger. My endurance will allow me to not just receive an education in my time at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College but, allow me to continue to grow and be a better person everyday. At Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, my goal is to major in Livestock Production and I hope to own or manage a livestock operation in the future. I also hope to educate my community about agriculture. Most people are several generations removed from the farm. Even in rural areas, most young people do not know where their food comes from. The amount of time, resources, and people it takes to get food from the farm to their table escapes them. It is my plan that through working in the agricultural industry I can decrease ignorance through serving my community as an active resource for Ag Education. Service is something I hold an inborn fondness for. Organizations in my community and at school such as, BETA, FFA, Student Council, church, and sports teams allow me to serve in various aspects. My heart for serving led me to become part of the morning welcoming team at Rivertown Community Church. I learned that a hug and smile are often some of the best medicines I can offer someone. . I learned that being servant minded is enriching and fulfilling. After graduation I plan to continue serving my community through Rivertown Community Church and various community service projects.