Growing Up In The Heart Of Agriculture

When asked time after time what I wanted to be when I grew up, it always seemed to be a different answer.  When debating what I wanted to do with my life I had many different ideas.  Would I be an orthopedics doctor, a veterinarian, or even follow in my mom’s path and become an elementary teacher?

I grew up on a farm south of Garner, Iowa with my parents Todd and Tracy and younger sister Brielle. Looking back, it seems that there was never a dull moment between my sister and I with softball games, piano lessons, and taking tractor rides with Dad.

Growing up I was always Dad’s farm girl, even on the days when loading pigs or helping run the pump tractor for our manure operation was not my ideal agenda for the day!  I learned quickly that being born on a farm meant helping out no matter what time in the morning dad came to wake you up. 

As I went through high school, I began to think more seriously about what I wanted to pursue after graduation. I became very involved in 4-H and FFA, and participated in many FFA contests of Agriculture Sales, and mock job interviews that helped develop my communications skills. During high school I became very interested in the agronomy side of our farm operation and decided that after graduating from Garner-Hayfield/Ventura I wanted to pursue Agriculture at Iowa State University.

This coming fall I will be a sophomore studying Agronomy and International Agricultural Relations at Iowa State University. Throughout my freshmen year I have developed interest in seed sales, and hope to pursue that career after graduating college.

I believe that working in agriculture is different than working in any other career. Unlike other careers, we depend heavily on Mother Nature, to not only look at agriculture as a business standpoint, but also as a lifestyle. 

Having a passion for agriculture is not just developed in a days’ time. It is deep rooted in every young agriculturalist, because we know that we are the future generation of agriculture. To have strong emotion and love or to be passionate about something is what I have developed in the field of agriculture, and I look forward to building my future career.

Life on the farm never leaves me wishing I grew up anywhere else. 

The crazy memories of ridding four wheelers around, doing chores with Brielle, watching the hustle and bustle of fall and spring, or even taking that one moment at the end of the day to watch the sun set over the fields during the fall.

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

John 1:3