Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a personal banker/manager at Woodford State Bank in Darlington. I live on an dairy farm where the cows are milked two times a day in a stanchion barn. I enjoy traveling as much as I can and taking photographs of the memories along the way.
What do you enjoy most about your career in agriculture? Why?
I enjoy seeing new animals be born and grow. I also enjoy seeing the seeds you plant flourish into crops to feed those animals.
What is the success in your agriculture career that you are most proud of?
Since agriculture is not my career, it is my home life, I would say watching the perseverance that goes into running a farm. It makes me proud. You have to get up every day even though it can be tough and you just have no energy some days. Just that perseverance to just do it again and again.
What are some of the challenges you face in agriculture and how do you handle them?
Some challenges I witness are giving your heart and soul and you are still subject to what markets are going to pay you. You put in the same work, but don’t necessarily get a great price even though you produce the same product. That doesn’t stop us from doing it though.
What is one agriculture experience that has defined you and why?
I’d say fencing is an agricultural experience that comes to mind. ‘They’ say good fences make good neighbors. When it came time for neighbors to put cows near a 40-year-old fence, we had to tear it out and I got to learn the art of taking clips off, pounding posts and putting the new clips in. That can be very tedious work, but it is necessary. Just like a fence is a boundary, I learned personal healthy boundaries are needed in life.
What is a Farm Bureau experience that you are most proud of and why?
An experience that I am proud of is going through the Leadership Institute and reflecting inward on my involvement in agriculture. It might not have the typical ‘green acres’ moments, but I get to share my experience.
What is something that most Farm Bureau members would not know about you? Explain.
I used to race a 4-cylinder car at the Lafayette County Speedway. I was helping at a shop one night and a conversation came up if I would run a car that I helped build. I was number 11 because it was easy to make with duct tape.
Why are you proud to be a Farm Bureau member?
I am proud to be a member and to share my story in hopes that others can grow in the organization too.
What advice do you have for new Farm Bureau members or those looking to get more involved?
Just attend an event. It helps network with people throughout the county and might lead to more things than you ever imagined.
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