We grew up in Black Earth, Wisconsin on a small hobby farm, where we learned the importance of hard work, teamwork, and faith by showing livestock in 4-H and running a small vegetable business. These early experiences shaped our passion for agriculture and provided a strong foundation for pursuing it as both a career and lifelong vocation.

Kate attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she studied Life Sciences Communication with minors in Agriculture Business and International Agriculture. Since graduating, she has worked for John Deere in marketing, product support, and lifecycle roles, leading marketing strategy that connect customers to solutions. She has remained active in the industry through leadership roles in Wisconsin’s National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA), leading John Deere’s Women focused Business Resource Group, and serving on AFA’s National Alumni Advisory Council. Kate and her husband Brad enjoy staying involved in agriculture through row-crop farming and raising their two young children with a strong connection to agriculture.

Sara also attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she earned a degree in Life Sciences Communication and a certificate in Agricultural Business Management. She was involved in the Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and the National Agri-Marketing Association. Today, Sara serves as the Marketing Manager at Agropur, leading strategic marketing initiatives for the company's cheese business and supporting growth across domestic and international markets. She also volunteers on the Wisconsin Farm to Table committee, helping connect consumers with agriculture through an annual farm-to-table event. Sara and her husband, Connor, enjoy spending time with their two young children traveling and exploring the outdoors.

James attended Iowa State University and graduated with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. During his time there, he was active in Alpha Gamma Rho and the American Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers, gaining hands-on leadership experience and building a strong professional network. He now serves as a Capital Project Manager at Cargill, where he contributes to large-scale projects that support the production and supply of beef products. James and his wife, Brynnen, currently reside in Texas where they remain connected to the cattle industry through their careers.

All three of us are proud to have stayed closely connected to an industry that’s so central to our upbringing and values.

Describe your AFA experience as a student.

We all attended AFA’s Leaders Conference, where we built meaningful connections and developed as leaders through programming focused on communication, self-awareness, and collaboration. Kate also participated in AFA’s 40 Chances program, learning about global food insecurity and traveling to Bolivia to learn about quinoa production and global agriculture systems. Collectively, our AFA experiences emphasized critical thinking about challenges in agriculture and building confidence in our ability to lead.

How did your AFA Student experience influence your career journey?

AFA provided leadership development and personal growth opportunities that shaped how we each approached our careers. It helped us better understand how our individual strengths could contribute to the broader agriculture industry. Through AFA, we gained exposure to diverse career paths and developed a mindset focused on continuous learning and adaptability — skills that have directly influenced our progression into roles in marketing, business, and engineering.

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

While we were rarely at the same AFA event together, we each came away with a similar takeaway — the importance of understanding your “why.” For Kate, memories exploring Bolivian agriculture stand out, for Sara the annual Leaders Conference to connect with students from throughout the country with the same interests and passion for agriculture and James enjoyed meeting others who shared an enthusiasm for agriculture. Conversations with industry professionals and peers helped us realize that agriculture is bigger than any one role, and that each of us has a responsibility to contribute in meaningful ways. That perspective continues to guide how we show up in our careers today.

At the time, what did AFA help you understand about yourself, your leadership style or your place in agriculture?

AFA helped us recognize that leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. We learned to leverage our individual strengths — whether it’s building relationships, solving problems, or driving projects forward — and to lead with authenticity. AFA also reinforced that there is a place for each of us in agriculture, regardless of career path.

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

Although we didn't meet them through AFA, the most influential people in all our lives have been our parents. They each enjoyed successful careers in agriculture sales and taught us the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships. These skills proved invaluable during our time with AFA, allowing us to connect with others who encourage us, foster our growth, and broaden our perspectives within the agriculture industry. Each of us married someone also working in agriculture, and at family gatherings we often discuss topics ranging from equipment and food marketing to dairy nutrition, beef processing, and grain merchandising.

What skill, mindset or lesson from AFA has been most useful in your professional life?

One of the most valuable lessons from AFA has been the ability to work effectively with others toward a common goal. Across all our roles, collaboration is essential — whether developing marketing strategies, managing relationships, or delivering capital projects. AFA helped us build the interpersonal and communication skills needed to succeed in team-based environments.

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

Kate has stayed actively involved through volunteerism and alumni development, recently joining AFA’s National Alumni Advisory Council. Sara and James remain grateful for the experiences and opportunities AFA provided and continue to support its mission. For all of us, staying connected to AFA is important because it allows us to give back to an organization that played a meaningful role in our development. It also keeps us connected to emerging leaders and evolving conversations within the agriculture industry.

Finish this sentence: Because of AFA, we…

have the confidence to lead, the perspective to think beyond ourselves, and the relationships to continue growing within the agriculture industry.