I grew up in Oak Harbor, Ohio, where I spent much of my time raising lambs and looking for any opportunity to ride along with my grandpa on his row crop operation. Those experiences sparked my passion for agriculture and ultimately led me to Ohio State ATI.

My path to where I am today wasn't necessarily what I envisioned when I started college. I earned my Associate of Science from Ohio State ATI and later completed a Bachelor of Science in Agriscience Education from The Ohio State University. Along the way, internships, leadership experiences, and organizations like Agriculture Future of America introduced me to opportunities across agriculture. Those experiences challenged me to look beyond the career path I thought my degree would lead me toward and opened my eyes to the many ways to make an impact in the industry.

After college, I joined Farm Credit Mid-America and have been fortunate to serve in a variety of roles supporting customers and rural communities. From loan processing and customer support to working with our Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer program, each role helped me better understand the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture today.

Today, I serve as a Public Policy and Industry Analyst for Farm Credit Mid-America, where I analyze industry and policy trends, develop data-driven insights, and build relationships that support the cooperative's mission of helping rural America thrive. Along the way, I earned my MBA from Murray State University, which gave me additional perspective and allowed me to bring together my interests in agriculture, business, policy, and relationship-building.

Describe your AFA experience as a student.

I remember flying to Kansas City for the first time in 2015. It was the first time I had been on a plane since I was five years old. I was nervous, excited, and had no idea what to expect.

At the time, I thought I was just attending a conference. Looking back, that trip ended up changing the trajectory of my college.

That first flight was the beginning of opportunities that took me all over the country, from Sacramento to Raleigh and plenty of places in between. Through four Leaders Conferences and several institutes, including the Plant, Animal, and Technology Institutes, I was exposed to parts of agriculture I never knew existed. Every experience broadened my perspective and helped me realize just how many different paths were available within our industry.

Just as important were the people. AFA connected me with business professionals who challenged me to think bigger about my future and with peers from across the country who became friends, mentors, and colleagues.

When I look back on my time as a student, AFA gave me something every college could use a little more of, confidence. Confidence to explore opportunities, confidence to ask questions, and confidence to change directions when new opportunities arise.

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

One conversation that has stayed with me came from a BASF leader who said, “When we know better, we do better.”

At the time, I probably didn't realize how much that simple statement would stick with me, but I've carried it throughout my career.

Like a lot of students and young professionals, I remember feeling the pressure to make the perfect decision all the time. The right internship. The right major. The right first job. What that conversation helped me realize is that growth doesn't work that way. Sometimes you have to make the best decision you can with the information you have and then be willing to learn from the outcome.

I've thought about that advice often during career transitions and new opportunities. Nobody starts with all the answers, and the goal can’t be perfection, the goal has to be to keep learning and improving. If I know more today than I did yesterday, then I should be able to do better today than I did yesterday.

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

Looking back, the biggest thing AFA taught me was that I didn't have to have everything figured out.

As a student, I thought my degree would largely determine my career path. AFA challenged that thinking by exposing me to opportunities, careers, and professionals that I otherwise never would have encountered. It gave me the confidence to look beyond what I thought I was supposed to do and explore what was actually possible.

One of those opportunities was an internship with Farm Credit Mid-America.

After that internship, I knew Farm Credit was where I wanted to build my career. I pursued that goal relentlessly after graduation, and eventually I achieved it. Looking back, I don't think I would have had the confidence to pursue that path without meeting professionals at AFA that had a similar experiences.

The relationships have been equally important. The students I met at Leaders Conference became much more than conference acquaintances. Years later, they're still people I call when I need another perspective, want to learn more about a company, or need expertise in an area outside my own. It's amazing how often those AFA connections continue to show up throughout your career.

The biggest leadership lesson I learned and still hold onto is that it's okay to ask for help. Whether it was asking for an introduction, seeking advice, or finding a mentor, I learned that successful people aren't successful because they did everything on their own. They're successful because they were willing to learn from others.

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

One of the things I remember most about being an AFA delegate wasn't a specific presentation or workshop. It was the people who took the time to sit down, listen, and engage in conversations.

They didn't have all the answers, and they didn't pretend to. They simply shared their experiences and reassured me that not having everything figured out was completely normal.

That's why I stay involved today.

I participate in AFA Leaders Conference each year through Farm Credit Mid-America, join AFA at National FFA Convention, host discussions about opportunities available after the blue jacket, help with résumé reviews, and support the selection process through completing application reviews.

I don't do those things because I think I have all the answers. I do them because someone once did the same thing for me.

One of the greatest lessons AFA taught me is that showing up matters. Sometimes the most meaningful thing you can do for a student is simply be available to them when they need you, to listen, and encourage them to take the next step.

The opportunities I received through AFA supercharged my trajectory. If I can play even a small role in helping create similar opportunities for the next generation, then showing up is always worth it.

Finish this sentence: Because of AFA, I…

Had a college experience that went far beyond the classroom.

AFA introduced me to parts of agriculture I didn't know existed, gave me opportunities to travel across the country, and connected me with people who challenged me to think differently. It helped me realize that agriculture is much bigger than any one career path and that some of the best opportunities come from being willing to try something new.

Most importantly, AFA made my education real. It gave me the opportunity to sit across the table from leaders and executives whose careers I admired and learn directly from their experiences. Those conversations helped me better understand where I fit within the industry and gave me the confidence to pursue opportunities that once seemed out of reach.

When I think about what AFA has meant to me, I come back to one word: perspective. It showed me what was possible, introduced me to incredible people, and helped shape the person and professional I am today.