Growing up, I always had my hands and head in 13 places at once with a variety of interests, ideas and activities. This hasn’t changed in my adult life.

Before joining the team at Dakota Farmer, I was a 4-H Youth Development Extension agent with North Dakota State University. If you know anything about Extension, you know that working there is easiest if you’re a jack of all trades, ready to tackle whatever task comes your way.

One responsibility written in the job descriptions for agents is “other duties as assigned.” This was especially true for me, as in Cass County there were over 400 4-H’ers who participated in programming, events and activities. I found myself coaching the livestock judging team, teaching STEM and computer coding, and coordinating a 4-H fashion show, all in the same week.

I see working at Dakota Farmer as a similar career. I will be able to cover dry beans, cattle ranches and sugarbeets all in one week — a challenge I look forward to taking on. But before I find my way onto your farms and ranches, here’s a little bit about me.

Life’s journey

The best way to describe myself is an extrovert who was involved in nearly every agriculture undergraduate club during my time in the animal science department at NDSU, a backpacker and hiker who’s more comfortable sleeping in a tent, a runner who spends too much time in the weight room, a communicator working to share facts on my favorite industry, a horse-holder and bleacher support to my favorite North Dakota team ropers, a dedicated owner to the world’s most spoiled cattle dog, and a graduate student with a bad coffee habit while writing my thesis.

While in my senior year at NDSU majoring in agriculture communications, I had the chance to join a well-known Midwest radio station as their farm and ranch reporter. When I applied, I’d never even recorded a podcast, but the farm and ranch director took a chance and hired me to start before I graduated. I covered North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota agriculture news, traveling to different events and farms, collecting stories and meeting farmers and ranchers along the way.

With help from other farm broadcasters and people who spent their whole lives working in radio, to the farmers and people I visited with, and with those who mentored me on being a professional, I found my career firmly placed within the agriculture industry.

I’ve worked as freelance photographer for most of my adult life, starting out with a photography hobby back when I was a Grand Forks County 4-H’er. Capturing images of the landscapes (both in and out of the Midwest), milestones such as those graduating high school or college, rodeo events and, of course, my favorite cattle dog has turned into one of my favorite past times.

Passion for ag

Many of the things I have the chance to be involved in have helped me reach my professional and personal goals. All of my activities and involvement also taught me about patience and persistence. Patience being a virtue is still something I remind myself of almost daily. Persistence, and a don’t-give-up attitude, is something instilled in me growing up in 4-H.

Writing about improving production practices, shining a spotlight on the region’s farmers who are outstanding in their field, and showcasing those organizations and individuals who are working to improve the agriculture industry are just a few of my many passions you’ll come to learn about. I’m very excited to join the fantastic team here at Dakota Farmer, and tackle the challenge of filling the big shoes