Growing up on her family’s grain farm in northern Illinois, Ava Splear decided to pursue a career that links her upbringing around agriculture with her passion for communication and storytelling. While a student at the University of Illinois, Splear was involved in Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, serving as its president. During her time in school, she gained professional experience through internships with DeKalb County Farm Bureau, John Deere and Ideal Industries, as well as the university's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in marketing communications. Graduating in 2024, with a degree in agricultural leadership, education and communications, Splear returned to northern Illinois to work for Farm Progress.