I’m a Pennsylvania cowgirl that grew up showing livestock in 4-H and competing in barrel racing. My family owns a small cow-calf operation where we raise cross-bred beef cattle and sell beef locally for freezer beef. I recently graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science from Penn State University and will be pursuing my Masters and Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky in Plant and Soil Science beginning in the Spring of 2011. My research will be focused on the soil-plant-animal relationship with an emphasis on forage crops and livestock grazing systems. Upon graduation I hope to work as a forage specialist and animal nutrition consultant to help producers solve problems at the farm level in both their forage production and livestock grazing systems. I am passionate about my agricultural heritage and the beef industry and have made telling agriculture’s story a lifelong goal. I have recently started my own blog “Pearl Snaps’ Ponderings” where I hope to provide insight into current issues into agriculture.