{"id":42651,"date":"2022-06-29T13:44:16","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T18:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wfbf.com\/?p=42651"},"modified":"2022-07-05T10:15:05","modified_gmt":"2022-07-05T15:15:05","slug":"in-their-blood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wfbf.com\/member-profiles\/in-their-blood\/","title":{"rendered":"In Their Blood"},"content":{"rendered":"
How does one determine his or her true calling? In agriculture, oftentimes an individual is born into a farming family and carries on that legacy. Other times, those callings come from somewhere even deeper.<\/p>\n
For Farm Bureau leaders Sara Menard Huber, Bob Nash and Brenda Dowiasch, one might even say their callings to agriculture are rooted in their blood.<\/p>\n
Three unique leaders with three unique journeys reflect on how they were called to agriculture, Farm Bureau and the interpersonal connections they have made with fellow agriculturists across the country.<\/p>\n
Sara Menard Huber was no stranger to agriculture while growing up in the south. She spent a lot of time watching her father mold the mind of students as an agriculture instructor and FFA advisor in Arkansas and, later, as an Extension educator in Louisiana.<\/p>\n
Despite a love of agriculture, Sara pursued a degree in physical therapy while attending Louisiana State University; however, her heart longed to return to her agricultural ties. She visited the University\u2019s food science department to explore options.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore I could even explain what I was there for, a student said they were signing me up for the product development team and I could major in food science,\u201d Sara said. \u201cI walked out of there signed up for classes and thought to myself, \u2018I guess we are doing this\u2019 and the rest was history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sara graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in food science and later attended Kansas State University for a master\u2019s degree in food science and in business administration. Currently, Sara is the Research and Development Manager at Brakebush in Westfield. She works with foodservice operators and national chain accounts to develop chicken products for menus.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are so many factors that go into getting a single chicken strip to market,\u201d Sara said. \u201cFactors like bird size, diet, coating flavors, cuts \u2013 you name it, we take it into consideration while working with customers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sara finds the most enjoyment in working with customers to build the perfect product. Many customers have longstanding relationships with Brakebush, which is something she is proud to be a part of.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are other companies out there that they could work with. They continue to pick us because of the relationships we build with them,\u201d Sara said. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting when we come together on a product we are proud of and we get to see it hit the market.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Sara moved to Wisconsin after graduating college, she said she was looking to make friends with a similar interest base.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was looking to make friends and get involved with the community, which is how I found myself getting involved in Farm Bureau,\u201d Sara said.<\/p>\n
Sara is a member of the Adams County Farm Bureau and serves as District 5 Young Farmer and Agriculturist Representative alongside her husband, Jeff. Considering her career and Farm Bureau involvement, Sara said relationships play an important role in her journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cLife has a funny way of taking you to the people you need,\u201d Sara said. \u201cThe people I have met up until this point have guided my life to where it needs to be and I wouldn\u2019t want to be anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n