Hi, my name is Mackenzie Engel, and I am an eighth-generation farmer. Agriculture has always been a huge part of my life, from working in the fields with my dad to being in my barn with my show cattle. Agriculture has always been a passion of mine, so much so that I plan on making a career out of it. Like they say, you will never work a day if you do what you love. My family Farm is run by my dad, mom, and me. We run a little over 1500 acres of corn and soybeans. Our family farm means everything to us, which has only grown my passion over the years. My love for the farm is deeper than just being a part of an amazing industry with such a legacy. For me, my love comes from working with my family, from checking stops and starts on the planter to bringing meals to the field. Life on the farm is not perfect, but there is beauty in that imperfect situation. Starting with plan A and an hour later, already being at plan H. As I sit with my dad on the tailgate of the work truck, surrounded by tools, trying to solve yet another problem, my love for agriculture grows. Another amazing opportunity that I was blessed with was showing cattle. My true passion is for livestock. Showing cattle, especially at a very competitive level, gave me a perspective on life. Caring for those animals 3 times my size and knowing they rely on me to care for them. The early morning feedings before school, to the late nights in the barn practicing showmanship and working hair. Then, come county fair, all the hard work becomes worth it when you walk into the ring knowing you have given this animal the best you could. Although showing steers was my favorite, I did show a few heifers that were then put back into the small cow herd at home. Continuing what my family has done for years, raising black Angus cattle. I truly believe that the hands-on experience on the farm has given me the tools to become successful in this lifetime. My passion for agriculture continued in high school, where I was fortunate enough to be vice president of my chapter's FFA. The leadership and career development events I competed in during this time helped me gain and perfect my skills in leadership and push me to continue down the path of Agricultural business. I will be attending college in the fall to obtain my bachelor's degree in Ag business. I could not imagine what my life would have been like if I were not a farm kid. My passion, much like a seed you plant grew and as I head on to the next chapter in my life that seed that was planted many years ago still grows inside me giving me the drive to become the best I can and make a difference in this industry, I am lucky to be a part of. Thank you for your consideration of this scholarship.

Never let go of the halter and if you do grab it again. I chose this sentence because this is what I was told as a little girl. Although at the time it was meant to keep the calf from running away it grew with me and I found new meaning in it. Never letting go of the halter is like never giving in when you're getting drug through the mud. you hold on for dear life and let it ride out. you can stick your heels down to try to stop it but that's about all you can do without letting go. " and if you do grab it again" when you let go because you will all do,grab it again and keep going. you grab it again or they win. if you give in then the world if dragging you through the mud the world wins. but if you get up and keep going you win. you are the stronger one.

Having been diagnosed at age 11 with T1D and Celiac made me grow up quickly because I needed to learn to be responsible for my health.I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on March 7th 2016. I spent 3 days in the hospital learning how to deal with my new life with lots of people telling me everything is about to change. I refused to give in without a fight so by October I participated in my first JDRF ONE WALK. I reached out to friends and family to create a walk team and started fundraising. Team Mac raised over $3,500. In December of that year I became a JDRF Youth Ambassador which gave me the opportunities to speak to groups from 20-200 plus people. I was given the chance to talk about living with Type 1 and share my diagnosis story. I also mentor newly diagnosed kids and encourage them to use what others see as a weakness and use it as their superpower because I understand that feeling of being lost after your world is flipped upside down. Living with an autoimmune disease is a 24/7 job,no weekends and no vacations. I learned that the doctor is not always right and I learned to advocate for myself and my health and ask questions when necessary. Being diagnosed gave me the courage to speak about my story in front of others to hopefully inspire others that they are strong and can get through whatever life throws at them! March 7, 2016 changed my life forever, but not in the way you may think. It made me strong and independent. I have been living with Type 1 Diabetes for 2,069 days I've lost 1,195 hours of sleep, done 8,561 finger pokes and 582 insulin pump site changes in the past 5 1/2 years. These numbers add up but in the end they make me who I am. If having diabetes was not crazy enough, I was also diagnosed with yet another autoimmune disease-Celiac. I had to completely cut out anything containing gluten from my diet. This was a stressful time for me because I wanted to be with my friends, but it was difficult to find things I couldn eat when I was with them. Then I remembered that I won't let this stop my life so wherever I went I started to bring a bag of food with me. Birthday party with cake? No problem, I'll bake a cake and bring my own. Having pizza at a team dinner? I got it, I'll bring my own. The thing with having an autoimmune disease is they can be draining mentally and physically, but you own the disease not the other way around. I have surrounded myself with loving family and friends to help me when I need them, I have worked to look on the bright side of everything even if it is the smallest sliver of light. Focus on it. My struggles in the past 5 years have only added to my strengths.

Sickness dosn't define you!! I want to show every man woman and child living with an uncurable disease that it does not make you weak and it should never hold you back. Being apart of JDRF and by sharing my story my goal is to inpaire people to do what they want because there sickness is not what holds then back but what holds them up and pushes them because they can. they want to show everyone that "this thing I have ya it sucks but it doesn't own me".

Joy is diffrent for everyone and for me its the farm its my cattle its FFA. Sometimes its hard to find the good things in life but when I look at those three things I find joy. Early mornigs can suck but they are better when I walk into the barn. Late nights seem pointless until the next morning when you can smell the freshly trunned soil or the small green sprouts of a corn or bean plant. Joy can be hard to find if you go to fast take your time in life you only get one.