Herbert student finds her calling in agricultural communications and marketing strategy
Where are you from, and why did you decide to attend the Herbert College of Agriculture at the University of Tennessee?
I am originally from Georgia, about 30 minutes north of Atlanta. I moved around pretty much all of North Georgia, but I went to high school in Milton. Being from Georgia, it was kind of always assumed that everyone’s top school choice was the University of Georgia, so I was predisposed to the idea of going there until I ended up touring UT Knoxville. I didn’t know much about the university at that time, but I was already set on being an ag major and knew the Herbert College of Agriculture was good.
As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I remember feeling a sense of belonging which I hadn’t felt at any other college I had toured. From that day, I knew I wanted to go to UT, so the few months after I studied hard to retake my ACT so I could get enough of a scholarship through the Volunteer Scholarship to be able to attend. Luckily, I got accepted and was able to get my score up, which raised my scholarship amount, and now I am an attending student.
What inspired you to major in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications (ALEC), and what interests you most about this field?
In high school I was a very active member of my FFA chapter as well as SkillsUSA. We didn’t have a middle school FFA chapter at the time, so FFA in high school was really my first time learning anything about the agricultural industry. I found it to be really interesting, as I already had a big interest in the sciences. During my sophomore year, one of my advisors called me over to her desk and asked me if I could compete in the Ag Sales competition. At this point, I was a very shy person, so the idea of talking to anyone I didn’t know scared me half to death, but I also had this feeling that I needed to get out of my comfort zone, so I signed myself up on a whim.
I ended up falling in love with it and public speaking in general, so I did an entrepreneurship competition my junior and senior year through SkillsUSA, competed in the marketing plan competition my senior year through FFA, and did many different side projects throughout it all. Because of this background that I gained within both ag communications and ag business, I decided that I wanted to pursue it as my undergraduate study. I think that the main thing that interests me about this field is the community that is built through it as well as the marketing side of agricultural communications. Given that I am a dual major (my other major being in agricultural and resources economics) I like the idea that I am able to use the skills that I learn through the ALEC program in such a versatile way.
Have there been any specific classes, research experiences, or professors at Herbert that have had a significant impact on your academic journey?
Through Herbert, I have been able to have countless opportunities that I don’t think I would have been able to have throughout any other college. This year, I have been able to work on a research project with Dr. Colclasure doing a content analysis regarding synthetic cannabinoids that were made legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. This project has allowed me to gain numerous skills, including using data analytic software such as NVivo and Qualtrics and practice my public speaking skills further.
Additionally, it has allowed me to grow my understanding of academic writing in the research media. Beyond this experience, I have enjoyed most of my classes that I have taken through Herbert, including ALEC 330 with Dr. Ruth and AREC 332, which is a food policy class I am taking right now. I didn’t think that I would enjoy food policy as much as I have but it has been a very interesting class. I think all the classes I have had through Herbert have helped me gain background knowledge that I will be able to use in the future.
Can you tell us about the ChLOE (Children Learning Through Outdoor Experiences) project and your role in it?
Children Learning Through Outdoor Experiences is a program that helps to connect outdoor education centers within the US together. Currently, ChLOE partners with 18 sites throughout the US spanning from Virginia to California and has impacted more than 33,000 K-12 students. My role in the project falls mainly on marketing as I am one of three marketing team members. I currently run ChLOE’s Instagram and Facebook and do other editing when needed, such as website editing. I enjoy working with ChLOE as I have been able to meet so many great members of the agricultural education field. Meeting people that work at different sites has allowed me to put in perspective the different “norms” that each state, or region of the states, have to adapt to due to different climates and environments.
Why do you think outdoor learning experiences are important for children today?
Outdoor learning experiences are so important for children today because through “traditional’ learning experiences a lot of times there is a hands-on aspect missing. Being a hands-on learner myself, I love to be able to experiment with things and really grasp the concept of how things work. Being in an outdoor environment allows for a bit more freedom and allows students to be aware of the ecosystem that they live in. Additionally, I think it teaches important concepts about agriculture and sets up student in the future to have at least a basic understanding of why agriculture and/or the health of our ecosystem is so important.
How has being part of the Herbert community impacted your personal and professional development?
Through Herbert I have been able to make countless connections and could not be more grateful. Herbert has allowed me to reach every goal I have strived for, including the research project, the internship, and the club leadership involvement through Tennessee Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (TACT). Networking has helped me learn so much about my professional field. Additionally, I think that through Herbert I have been able to work harder to improve my work ethic while also trying to maintain a good work-life balance.
What has been your most rewarding or memorable experience at Herbert?
I don’t know if I have a specific thing that I can choose, but I think through all my classes, being able to complete the project-based assignments feel the most rewarding to me. When it comes to brainstorming, I am a bit all over the place, so being able to see my projects change from a jumble of different ideas to one main point on the page always makes me happy.
How has your experience in the Herbert College of Agriculture shaped your career plans and prepared you to enter the field?
When I came to UT Knoxville, I was already pretty set in my career path, but didn’t necessarily know how to get there. Now, I think it is easier for me to have a plan and understand the route I am going down which has allowed me to focus more on the bigger picture instead of having to constantly worry about the next step I have to take.
What advice do you have for students interested in majoring in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications (ALEC)?
I would say to go for it. The best part of ALEC is the versatility of it, and you can use it in so many different aspects of your life. Whether a primary major, secondary major, or minor, ALEC has something to offer for everyone and can be a great avenue in learning more about your professional development styles and give you skills that you will find useful throughout any career. Additionally, I have never been involved in a program that has so many admin and staff that care so much about the students. I have loved every single professor I have had for my ALEC classes and seeing how much they care for their students allows me to learn the material better.
What are some of your hobbies or a fun fact about you that people might be surprised to learn?
I love to bake and cook. If something involves food, I’ll be there, and I have not once found a food item I did not like (quite literally). I worked at a pie shop for a while in high school, which is how I fell more in love with baking, but I would say I cook a lot more than bake. Additionally, I love to hike or do almost anything outside. I haven’t been able to go on any super big hiking trips as of recent, but it is definitely a goal of mine to go on a road trip throughout the US to visit some of the national parks.
