It seems to me that there is a growing trend in the U.S. agriculture industry: students across the country are abandoning their agricultural roots in pursuit of more glamorous urban careers like doctors, lawyers or pharmacists. It saddens me to think that I was once one of these kids.
Growing up on my family’s cattle ranch, I loved being my dad’s right-hand-man. I was a tomboy to the fullest, always helping with chores, working on my show calves or selling bulls to our customers. Simply stated, I loved being a farm girl! But that changed the summer before my freshman year of high school.
I desperately wanted to fit in with my peers. After years of being teased about living on a cattle farm, I decided enough was enough. No one at Mitchell High would know about my life away from school. I decided never to return to agriculture. Back then, I didn’t see any career choices or any future for myself in this industry.
The first day of high school, I told my mom my plan to abandon my roots and finally be one of the cool kids. I’ll never forget what she told me that day, “Mandy, never forget who you are or where you come from.”
I didn’t truly understand her words until a few years later. As my high school career rounded the corner and began to come to a close, I realized how foolish I had been. I hadn’t been very successful at hiding my home life anyway. There were so many nights and weekends when I had to skip movies or weekend gatherings with my friends because of the farm.
So over the next few years, I re-embraced my roots with 4-H and Future Farmers of America. I began to appreciate how much work, dedication and true heart it takes to make a farm successful.
Coming full circle, my year as the National Beef Ambassador has transformed me into an enthusiastic and passionate spokesperson for the beef industry. As an ambassador, I traveled across the country promoting beef to consumers and talking with producers about our industry and the beef checkoff. I spoke about beef nutrition, food safety, environmental issues, global marketing and proper animal husbandry practices. When talking with consumers, I believe it’s important they know that their food doesn’t come from factories, but from hard-working American farmers and ranchers who love the land and their livestock. By proudly sharing our agricultural backgrounds, ambassadors help to connect the consumer with the integrity and commitment to quality of our producers. Sharing this message is one of the most important and rewarding aspects of the ambassador program. And had I not grown up on a farm, I wouldn’t be able to share my perspective with such confidence and passion.
It is amazing now to look back and remind myself that I was once an apologetic farm girl, desperately trying to fit in. Now I have wholeheartedly joined the many strong voices of the beef industry.
I have a burning desire in my heart to share this story with students across the nation. I want to challenge all agriculture students to embrace their roots and be proud of who they are and where they come from.
Growing up on a farm or ranch is a unique way of life that most people don’t ever get the opportunity to experience. These experiences help to shape us into hard-working adults. Even if farming and ranching aren’t the most glamorous lifestyles, they provide one of the most rewarding careers a person can follow.
Now I have learned that no matter what talents or skills one may possess, there is a home for each and every one of us to find success in agriculture!
With all the exciting opportunities for students to take advantage of in the agriculture industry, I hope that the trend of kids abandoning their roots will subside. With my year as the National Beef Ambassador coming to a close, I’m looking forward to my upcoming internship with USDA this summer in Washington, D.C. These are just a few examples of the amazing opportunities available in agriculture.
I challenge all of us in this industry to stand up, raise our voices and share our passion for agriculture. Be proud of who you are and where you come from. If we follow this philosophy, we will always be happy.
So go ahead, share the fire within and transform yourself into an ambassador for beef!
| Permalink| 
