I grew up in rural Iowa, where my involvement in 4-H first sparked my interest in leadership, communication, and the future of agriculture. That foundation continued at Iowa State, where I deepened my connection to agriculture and communications through a double major in Public Service and Administration in Agriculture and Journalism and Mass Communication. Those experiences began shaping the path that would eventually lead me to a career focused on helping move strategy into action.

Professionally, that path has taken me from agency to startup to corporate, with each chapter building on the last. I began in agency roles at McCormick/Sandbox and Spinutech, where I spent nearly a decade helping agriculture clients shape positioning, launch products, plan campaigns, and connect strategy to execution. From there, I took a leap into the startup world at AgriSync, where I led marketing, helped refresh the brand, and supported acquisition preparation. That experience ultimately brought me to John Deere through the acquisition of AgriSync in December 2021, where I helped transition ExpertConnect into Deere, led communications and launch efforts across regions, and later expanded into broader operational and strategic roles.

Today, as Manager of Training Operations, I still draw on those early rural Iowa roots as I work to bring people, strategy, and execution together in ways that create value for dealers and customers. I live in the Des Moines area with my husband and our three young children, and we enjoy spending time outdoors and cheering on the Cyclones. I’m also an AFA Lifetime Member, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting the next generation of talent in agriculture.

Describe your AFA experience as a student.

My first experience with AFA was as a summer marketing and communications intern in Kansas City, and it gave me an early glimpse into the kind of impact this organization has on students and the agriculture industry. During that internship, I had the opportunity to lead student communications through newsletters and social media while also supporting program development and helping build connections among interns in the Kansas City area. What began as an internship quickly became a lasting relationship. After that summer, I stayed actively involved by attending AFA Leaders Conference and the AFA Policy Institute.

After graduation, I joined the AFA Alliance right away and spent two years serving on the board, while also volunteering in a variety of ways over the years, from reviewing internship applications to supporting different institutes. Since then, I’ve attended many AFA Leaders Conferences as an alum, participated in regional events, and represented John Deere as an exhibitor. Most recently, I’ve had the chance to continue growing as a leader through Next Level Ag.

It’s especially meaningful to reflect on that journey during AFA’s 30th year, knowing I’ve had the privilege of being part of the organization for half of its history. I feel incredibly grateful for the many ways AFA has shaped my personal and professional journey. It has been special to experience the organization from so many perspectives and to continue growing through its community, opportunities, and mission.

How did your AFA Student experience influence your career journey?

My AFA student experience influenced my career journey in several meaningful ways. First, it taught me the value of building strong relationships and staying connected across the agriculture industry, something that continues to be key throughout every stage of my career. It also opened my eyes to the many directions a career in marketing and communications can take, from agency work to startups to internal corporate roles, and helped me see how broad the possibilities really were. Just as importantly, AFA gave me the confidence and professional skills to navigate the workplace with greater clarity and purpose. Looking back, it played a meaningful role in helping me understand not only where I could go professionally but how I wanted to show up along the way.

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

One AFA memory that has stayed with me is attending the 2012 AFA Policy Institute. We had the opportunity to engage with several respected leaders, but one experience that especially stood out was meeting Orion Samuelson. He had a remarkable presence and a way of connecting with peers and students that felt both genuine and impactful. Given my interest in agricultural communications, meeting someone so well-known in the industry was incredibly inspiring. While I don’t recall every word he shared, I do remember how it felt to be in conversation with someone who listened with intention and made others feel seen. That impression has stayed with me and continues to influence how I try to show up in my own conversations.

Looking back, a quote from his retirement reflects that same sentiment: “You can’t respond to someone until you listen to them, and you can’t ask the right questions until you learn where they’re coming from.” (Farm Progress, December 2020). That idea has stayed with me not only because of that moment, but because so much of my AFA experience reinforced the importance of listening, learning, and engaging with others in a meaningful way. It is a perspective I hope to carry forward throughout my career in agriculture.

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

I stay connected to AFA both directly through AFA and through my role at work. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed giving back by volunteering as an industry partner in institutes, reviewing resumes, and continuing to engage in opportunities that support my own professional growth as well. In my professional role, I’ve also had the chance to represent John Deere and help create meaningful touchpoints with students through recruitment efforts and industry engagement. That connection remains important to me because AFA has given so much to my own personal and professional journey. Staying involved is one way I can give back, while also staying close to the perspectives, aspirations, and needs of the next generation of talent. That continues to make me a better mentor, leader, and advocate for the future of agriculture.

Finish this sentence: Because of AFA, I…

Because of AFA, I see my place in agriculture more clearly and carry a deeper sense of purpose in the work I do. AFA helped me build a network of passionate, thoughtful people across the industry who have broadened my perspective and reminded me that agriculture is strengthened by relationships, shared learning, and a willingness to invest in one another. It also helped me understand that leadership is not only about technical expertise or having the right answers, but about how you communicate, build trust, bring people together, and create momentum around a common goal. That perspective has stayed with me throughout my career, especially in roles where I’ve needed to connect strategy to execution, align people around a vision, and help teams move forward with clarity. AFA also gave me confidence in the value of soft skills, which I now see as some of the most important skills a leader can have. Listening well, communicating with intention, building strong teams, and helping others see how their work contributes to something bigger have all become central to how I lead. Looking back, AFA didn’t just influence my early career, it helped shape the kind of professional, teammate, and leader I continue striving to be.