Or even scarier, who would I be?  These are questions that entertain my mind as I picture life without my strong tie with 4-H, showing livestock, being the third generation cattle producer and participation in my church and community.  Growing up on a small, registered Hereford farm, showing cattle is what I’ve always loved to do.  From an early age, walking in the pasture with my grandpa and dad checking cows, cattle were in my blood forever. 

With this growing passion for the beef cattle industry, I also have an enthusiasm for people.  Through many competitive events in 4-H, I knew that having a servant attitude and willingness to put others needs before your own, was the kind of legacy that I wanted to leave.  From being President of the War Eagle 4-H Club, Lee County 4-H Council, State Junior Cattlemen’s Association (two year term) and numerous other offices, this first-hand experience started to ignite my passion to be an advocate for the ever changing cattle industry.

It has been my desire to make a difference in the lives of others.  I have had the unique opportunity to serve on the National Junior Hereford Board of Directors for the past two years and was recently elected vice president. Serving on this dynamic team of directors has allowed me to network with cattle producers across the United States and work with breeders and producers, bridging the gap of communication between producers and consumers.

We as beef producers work hard day in and day out to be superior stewards of the land and continue producing safe and nutritious beef for dinner tables across America. It is crucial that we all be equally passionate and vocal in sharing our stories and opinions. Being a regular blogger for the Young Producers’ Council will provide me with an avenue of communication to discuss pertinent issues that the beef cattle industry is facing.  I hope to discuss these issues and talk about creative ideas of how we possibly can change policy to make it easier for the small cattle producer to sustain and support his family, and create a more unified voice and message for us to better educate the public perception of the cattle industry.

I am a senior at Auburn University and will graduate in December 2009 with an Agriculture Communications major and a minor in Agriculture Leadership.  I am currently seeking a position doing public relation or communication work for a company in the beef cattle industry.