Growing up on a family farm in the Central Valley, surrounded by dairy cows, almond orchards, and beef cattle, agriculture wasn’t just something I studied, it was the world I was raised in. Today, as a Senior Agricultural Business student at Fresno State, an Honors College scholar, and the President of the Ag Business Club, I am channeling everything that upbringing gave me into building a future in the industry I love. My story is one of roots and range, from FFA chapter president in high school to competing on a national stage in college, and through all of it, I’ve stayed grounded in the same values the farm instilled in me from the very beginning.

Grown on the Farm

I have been around agriculture my whole life. I grew up on a family-run farm that has primarily consisted of dairy, almonds, and beef cattle. Most of my relatives are also involved in agriculture, so I have had countless opportunities to be a part of this amazing industry. I am grateful to have grown up on the farm with my family, where I was instilled a passion for agriculture and a foundational hard work ethic that led me to get to where I am today. From a young age, I was able to see both the joys and challenges of farming, which led me to develop a great appreciation for all the farmers out there helping feed the world.

The Blue Jacket Years

FFA was highly influential in shaping my passion for agriculture and leadership through the many experiences I was fortunate enough to be a part of in the blue jacket. The special part about FFA was that I was able to share my passion for agriculture with so many students who added fuel to my fire to continue my drive to work for the future of the agriculture industry. Not only this, but FFA simultaneously brought personal growth and leadership skills that I could not have found anywhere else, and after going through the program, I am now better suited to serve the agriculture industry as a leader.

That foundation of service didn’t end with high school. During my time at Fresno State, I went on to serve as a Senior Chair for Operations on the Fresno State FFA Field Day Committee, a chance to give back to the program that gave me so much. It was an amazing experience to give back to the FFA program that provided me with so many life-changing skills and abilities, and I was grateful to play a part in doing the same for the younger generation of FFA members.

Coming to Fresno State

I was drawn to attend Fresno State because of their widely known agricultural program and the fact that they are located in the heart of the Central Valley, where most of our food is grown. Over the past two years attending Fresno State, I have been fortunate to learn and network with many different people and industries within agriculture, discovering many paths to pursue after graduation.

Being selected into the Smittcamp Family Honors College at Fresno State has truly been a privilege that I will always be grateful for. I am proud to represent agriculture as a Fresno State Honors Student with a passion for this industry. I would not be in this position if it were not for agriculture first instilling in me a hard work ethic that contributed to all my academic successes. This experience has allowed me to continue succeeding in my academic studies and gain more networking across Fresno State and the Central Valley as a whole.

Leading the Ag Business Club

The Ag Business Club at Fresno State has provided me with countless opportunities to discover and learn about all the possible pathways and industries within agriculture. I started out as a member attending meetings and quickly decided to become an officer, where I am currently serving as President of the club. I think this club is very important because it provides a chance for students to network with industry professionals and discover what agriculture pathway they may want to pursue.

One of my favorite recent experiences through the club was an industry tour where we had the opportunity to travel down to Huron and visit an agave farm, learning about how Woolf Farming is becoming a pioneer in California agave farming. It is experiences like that, getting out of the classroom and into the field, that have made my time at Fresno State so valuable.

Competing on the National Stage

I loved competing in the national Student Food Marketing Challenge because it was similar to the Agricultural Issues competition I did through FFA in high school. I was able to work with a talented team of individuals where we researched an industry we were not very familiar with, since the only remaining sugar beet farmers in California are from the Imperial Valley. We analyzed the challenges facing those growers and proposed an innovative partnership strategy between California sugar growers and PepsiCo.

This competition was challenging because we had a limited amount of time and resources, but it was very rewarding. By the end, I had become much more knowledgeable about sugar beet farmers and the issues they face in California. We were fortunate enough to place second in this national competition, and it is an experience I will carry with me for a long time.

Building Real-World Experience

My education hasn’t been confined to the classroom. I have already gained a great deal of hands-on experience, from working on my family’s operation, full circle dairy, to seeing my relatives’ dairy farms across the Central Valley, and being a part of my relatives’ regenerative operation, Burroughs Family Farms. I have also had the chance to gain valuable internships at RPAC, an almond grower and processor, and I am currently working as a lending intern at Yosemite Farm Credit. From almonds and cattle to finance and accounting, I have explored a few different directions within this industry, and I hope to glorify the Lord in wherever I end up.

The Biggest Opportunities for the Next Generation

As a young ag business student, I see a lot of opportunities for the next generation to lead within our agricultural industry. I think that as long as younger agriculturalists continue to stay passionate about the future of the industry and stay up to date with California’s issues of water, labor, regulations, input costs, and technological advances, they will find a place within this industry. The challenges are real, but so is the opportunity for those who are willing to show up and do the work.

What I’ve Learned Along the Way

I think one of the most challenging parts about growing up is comparing your journey to everybody else, whether academically, professionally, or personally. In agriculture, there is a wide array of people with unique skills and abilities, and as I pursue a career in this industry, I have found it easy to compare how others are doing with myself. However, I have learned to focus on my own unique journey and do everything in my ability to work hard in all I do while staying humble and learning from those with more experience than me.

My favorite experiences at Fresno State haven’t been any single moment, but rather the culmination of my time spent involved in extracurriculars within the agricultural program, whether that was team competitions, overnight industry tour trips, or networking events throughout the year. It has been that involvement, more than anything else, that has shaped who I am becoming as a young professional.

Advice for Students Considering Agriculture

The advice I would give to younger students thinking about agriculture and the programs that follow is to jump into as many opportunities as you can. I am not an expert and still have a lot to learn in the agriculture industry, but I do know that because of the involvement I had in FFA and my college agricultural activities, I am now better prepared to enter the industry than if I would have just stayed in the classroom and not ventured out. Say yes, show up, and let the experiences teach you.

Looking Ahead

After I finish my study in Agricultural Business next spring, I am still figuring out what is next, but I am stepping into as many roles and experiences within the agriculture industry as I can. My story has been one of many changes in the direction I thought I would pursue, but I know that I am passionate about the future of the agriculture industry, and my faith in the Lord has been the most foundational part of my life and will continue to be wherever I end up.

The farm planted something in me a long time ago. I’m still watching it grow.