I am originally from Owatonna, Minnesota, but I've lived in the Brookings, South Dakota, area since 2009. I currently work at South Dakota State University in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. My job is a mix of student recruitment, academic advising and student success. I enjoy that my role allows me to help educate future leaders within agriculture.

Describe your AFA experience as a student.

I first attended AFA by accident. At the beginning of my sophomore year, one of my mentors, Tim Nichols, pulled me aside at the career fair and asked me if I had heard of AFA. He said there was a spot open for me. I didn't know what AFA was, but I took a chance accepted his invitation. I remember being impressed by all of the other students from all over the country with the same passion I had and speakers that were action orientated rather than just cheer leaders. AFA did a great job of challenging the way I thought about everything from agriculture to leadership.

How did your AFA Student experience influence your career journey?

AFA helped get me my first job out of college at ADM.

What is one AFA memory, moment or conversation that has stayed with you?

I think about the hundreds of different students that I have been able to help chaperone to Conference over the years with the SDSU College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences' support. Together we've opened a lot of doors for a lot of students. I think that is pretty impactful for our campus and industry.

Was there a person, mentor, peer or industry professional you met through AFA who influenced your path? What impact did they have?

I think I have been influenced by every student and speaker I've interacted with with AFA. Every one of those people leave a piece of themselves with you. Russ Weathers and Nancy Barcus have been there since I started as a student in AFA, and I enjoy catching up with them every year over a meal or in the hallway at conference.

In what ways do you stay connected or involved with AFA in your professional life? Why is that important to you?

I've been involved with AFA for more than 20 years because every year I get to reconnect with old friends and meet a whole crop of new ones. Those connections across geography and parts of the industry have been very fulfilling both personally and professionally.