FFA Brings New Beginnings

The Very Beginning

I grew up on a family farm in central Illinois with the dream of running the operation with my siblings some day. The simple minded young boy I was had no idea the vast amount of knowledge that came with farming. The enjoyment I got from riding in the tractors and the combine with my grandpa was enough to hook me in. My father worked for Walters Ag in Farmington when I was little and mom would take us kids out to see him every so often during the summer when he would come home late. He eventually left there and went to work for Riverland FS, now called West Central FS, in Williamsfield and later in Maquon as a salesman/applicator. I would go to work with him sometimes and that sparked a fire in me to want to become a salesman for FS. It was so much fun riding around with him, scouting farmers fields, flying the drone and talking to the farmers. He won many awards through Growmark for selling seed, and others through the Certified Crop Specialist (CCS) certification which made me want to have my own plaques with my name on them some day, and so I did.

A Short Introduction

My family has been involved in FFA for a long time, my grandpas were both in FFA, as well as my dad’s sisters, my brother and sister as well, I had a very high chance of being involved in FFA. It was Introduction to Agriculture class my freshman year, the beginning of my FFA experience. From Ag Sales and Agronomy to Forestry and Horse Judging, I did the majority of the CDEs every year and I was Chapter Sentinel for a year. All FFA members were required to keep a record book on a job or business. At home we had sweet corn that we raised for the family to freeze for the winter and whatever extra we had we would set out front in the yard and sell it. My parents gave me the idea to take over the garden and do Vegetable Production for SAE Record Book instead of the highly competitive Crop Production. These competitions are based off of growth of the entrepreneurship (or the other categories you could choose from) and an interview with a panel of judges.

The Beginning of a New Path

In the fall of 2016 I founded Caleb’s Produce Stand (real original right?) I started growing specialty crops on 1/4 of an acre in 2017 and expanded to 1/2 acre in 2018 and sold my produce on a folding table and a small wagon in the front yard. In 2018 I won section 12 FFA Proficiencies for Vegetable production. In 2019 I acquired a set of running gear (what anhydrous tanks are on) and began construction of my produce stand, I also created a Facebook group to advertise my produce. It took a while to learn what will sell and what won’t and how much to grow to support the unknown demand of that year. In 2020 I won Section 12 and District 3 FFA Proficiencies for Vegetable Production. In March of 2020 I competed in State FFA Proficiencies for my record book and placed 3rd in the Vegetable Production category. I then earned my American FFA Degree in 2021, but with a transfer mistake by the state of Illinois FFA, I didn’t actually get it until 2022. But this wasn’t the end of my produce business. I partnered up with a gentleman down the road with a fruit orchard, he gave me fruit to sell and I got commission. I bought a greenhouse in 2020 and kept expanding production land each year until I reached 3 acres in 2022 and 500 members in my Facebook group. As of the end of 2023 I remodeled the stand to almost double the size and have over 700 members in my group and many more passerby’s that support my produce stand. With my produce sales along with other jobs and internships I obtained from my junior college I was able to support myself through college and even purchase my own car. It also helped me to purchase equipment to increase efficiency in my production.

Produce Stand 2022

Produce Stand 2023

Lessons Learned

I learned so much just from starting my own business and being involved in FFA. I started growing cover crops in my patches and studied insects and plant physiology and learned how everything interacts with each other. I started to care more about the environment and how to increase soil fertility and productivity rather than just using chemicals and conventional practices to increase production in agriculture. Having my own view in crop production showed me a new way of production management. I still dream of taking over the farm and using the knowledge I have gained from my experiences to improve production on the family farm and continue my produce stand.

About The Author

Photo credit to ForeverMe Photography

Hi, my name is Caleb Mahr, I am from Hanna City, Illinois. I am a Senior studying Agronomy/Agriculture Science at Western Illinois University. I grew up on a family farm of corn and soybeans. When I graduate I plan on finding a job in precision agronomy as well as helping on the family farm and running my produce business. But life tends to change and you have to just go with the flow sometimes. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

Skipping a Generation: How I found my place in Agriculture

Growing up I was always surrounded by farming. My grandparents have a family farm in Beardstown, IL. My grandfather’s passion was for agriculture. However, my mom did not have the passion for agriculture like my grandfather did. My mom became a nurse. She was never involved in the agriculture industry. I grew up going on tractor rides and going out to the family farm pretty often at a young age. It’s about a 45-minute drive from my house so I was not able to go out there as often as I would have liked to since I did not have a license at the time. As I grew up, I became more involved in sports and any extracurricular activities that I could possibly do. My schedule all of a sudden became full. Going out to the family farm became nonexistent and only on holidays. 

My eighth-grade year I took an Introduction into Agriculture class. My Agriculture teacher was amazing! She brought back that love for agriculture that I had while growing up. My freshman year of high school, I signed up for an agriculture class. I joined The National FFA Organization as well my freshman year and did anything and everything that I possibly could to be involved. And after that every year since then I signed up for as many agriculture classes as I possibly could take. By my senior year I had taken every agriculture class possible. It would not have been possible without my amazing FFA advisor Mrs. Nelson. She has always been my biggest cheerleader and is the reason why I chose Agriculture.

Ag Legislative Day 2020

By senior year I had wholeheartedly decided that I wanted to pursue a career in agriculture. I am a homebody, and I did not want to go away to college just yet. I attended Lincoln Land Community College my first two years of college to obtain my associate degree in Agriculture. It was the best decision I have ever made! My time at Lincoln Land helped expose me to so many different opportunities. My freshman year I am pretty sure that I volunteered to help at every event possible. I loved every minute of it! I was able to attend Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference, PAS, National PAS in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and an industry tour in Texas. I was even asked to do content creation at the Illinois State fair in 2022.  

National FFA Convention 2022

Agriculture Future of America

Moving towards my sophomore year, I ended up taking a job at Lincoln Land as a student worker in the Kreher Agriculture building. The professors there were always encouraging and pushed me to be the best that I could be. I applied to be an Agriculture Future of America Ambassador and I was offered the position. I was one of 30 across the entire United States of America. Again, my sophomore year I was exposed to so many opportunities. I competed at PAS at the state and national level, attended Agriculture Future of America Leaders conference as an ambassador, attend National FFA convention as a student recruiter for Lincoln Land, helped host a livestock competition, take an industry tour of Ireland and create a network of friends across the country.  

National PAS in Iowa March 2023

Ireland May 2023

After I graduated from Lincoln Land, I decided to transfer to Western Illinois University. This was the perfect choice for me. At Western, it truly feels like a family. I was welcomed with open arms. So far, I have gotten involved in Collegiate Farm Bureau, PAS/Collegiate FFA, and I am in the process of joining Sigma Alpha! I cannot wait to see where Western takes me! I learned that you do not have to grow up surrounded by agriculture to find yourself in this industry.

Sigma Alpha Mom’s Night 2023!

Meet the Author:

Hi! My name is Elizabeth Lee! I am a Junior at Western Illinois University. I am studying Ag Business with a minor in Communications. At Western, I am involved in Collegiate Farm Bureau, Collegiate FFA, PAS and Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority. Also, I am an ambassador for Agriculture Future of America. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

4 Generations of Agricultural Educators

4 Generations of Agricultural Educators

When my great-grandfather, Edmund Peter Staff (E.P), graduated from the University of Illinois in 1937 he had no idea he was starting a legacy of agricultural educators. E.P.’s son and granddaughter would both go on to teach agriculture as well. And in just two short years his great-granddaughter, me, will be a fourth generation agricultural educator.

My great-grandfather taught high school agriculture for 25 years. After graduating from college he started his teaching career in Anderson, Indiana. After one year of teaching, E.P. was hired by The Chandler Evans Corporation and during World War II the corporation sent him to teach pilots in the navy about carburetors. After the war he worked for Boeing Aircraft. He restarted his teaching career in his hometown of Ramsey, Illinois, in 1950. Keeping his family in Ramsey, E.P. accepted a job at Pana high school in 1953 where he would teach until retirement in 1975. E.P., his wife Margaret, and their eight children created a life and name in Ramsey. When he wasn’t teaching, E.P. had a 230 acre farm where he raised sheep, hogs, and chickens, as well as corn and beans. In 1966 he turned 65 acres of his farm into Ramsey Lake Golf Course, which still stands today.

Edmund Staff pictured with wife Margaret.

Following in his father’s footsteps, my grandfather, Aloysius Staff (Loy), pursued a career in agriculture education. Upon returning home from the military, Loy married my beautiful grandma, Cheryl, and graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1977. In 1978, a few years after his dad had retired, he started his teaching career at Ramsey High School. After one year of teaching, Loy and Cheryl bought the farm land and Golf Course from E.P. and Margaret. In 1984 my grandpa taught Turf Management at Lewis and Clark Junior College. Loy spent one year at the college and then returned to work at the golf course full time. He and my grandma raised their two daughters, Laura and Julie, at the golf course where he and his siblings grew up. After selling the golf course in 2004, Loy became a realtor and remained in the position until retirement. He currently resides on the same land he was raised on in Ramsey, Illinois.

Loy and Cheryl with daughters Laura (middle) and Julie (left).

My mother, Laura Benhoff, unintentionally found herself as a third generation ag teacher. She graduated from Greenville College in 1999 with a degree in Biology Education. Just like her father and grandfather she was hired at Ramsey High School, but not as an ag teacher, she was hired as a tutor. At the end of her first year as a tutor, the agriculture teacher resigned. Because of her biology background and experience growing up on a golf course, the principal assigned her the job of agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. She fell in love with education and the rest is history.

My mom graduated with her Masters in School Counseling in 2003. She spent six years at Ramsey High School, two as the ag teacher, two as both the ag teacher and the guidance counselor, and two as solely the guidance counselor. In 2007 she obtained her principal certificate, and has been a principal at an alternative school in Vandalia, Illinois for 18 years. She has been recognized state wide for her passion for students, and she says her favorite thing about teaching is seeing her students “make it.” Her love for education inspires me and I am so proud to call her my mom. My mom and dad bought the family farm ground from my grandfather a few years ago. My parents along with my younger brother and sister live right beside my grandparents on our family’s land.

Laura winning Principal of the Year.

Laura with my dad, Clint, my siblings, and myself.

Three generations of agricultural educators before me, they have paved the way and shown me what passion for both agriculture and education look like. I cannot wait to get into my own classroom to connect with students and teach them about this amazing industry. The inspiration of my mother, grandfather, and great-grandfather is something I will keep with me throughout my career. I hope to do them proud as a fourth generation agricultural educator.

About the Author

Hi! I’m Brooke Benhoff and you can probably guess from the story that I’m from Ramsey, Illinois. I transferred from Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, making me a junior here at WIU. I am studying to be an agriculture teacher like my family members before me. My passion for agriculture started young, working with my grandpa on his cattle farm. I cannot wait to teach the next generation of agriculturalists. Some of my favorite things include Jesus, my family, friends, and dogs, Lady and Olive. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, I hope you enjoyed it!

AgriCULTURE

October 12th, 2023 | Maggie McStay | Advocacy

Boston University defines culture as, “all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation.” As an agriculturist I’m proud to say that the agriculture industry has a unique culture, especially in a modern world. Agricultures ability to grasp old traditions and withstand the pressure of modern society is almost un heard of. As agriculture tries to keep up with a revolving world it is vital we stay true to our culture.

It’s no secret the industry faces a pivotal point which is exacerbated by the separation of consumer and producer. It’s as vital as ever that we as agriculturists try and share our culture to everyone possible. I truly believe agriculture should be everywhere. From rural to suburban areas. Most people lack the understanding of agricultural practices and if we invite them to participate in our culture there’s a hope we can bridge the gap between producer and consumer.

Agriculture is a very broad industry. Many see agriculture as just food production but actually there are endless agricultural opportunities. I encourage anyone to visit an operation and analyze day to day tasks. Personally, I found it surprising how much technology and sophisticated-scientific practices are used. Some surprising agriculture careers are biochemists, enzymologists, and even enviormental engineers. Who would have thought? If the agricultural industry wants to keep up with the growing demand of food there needs to be the latest technology and science incorporated into production practices. Sharing the culture is the only way agriculture will secure its future.

Not only will sharing our culture ensure the future of agriculture but also create a better next generation. The values learned in agriculture are comparable to none. The hands on experiences and real world problem solving teaches youth how to actually strive in the real world. Personally I learned the that not everything can be solved or relied on by technology and that using my hands instead of a screen actually set me apart from my peers. This knowledge has proved beneficial numerous times and I bet our society would look different if that was a more practiced custom.

In my opinion agriculture needs to be introduced to younger generations through the academic system. Agriculture should have as much importance as subjects like math, science, and langue arts. In reality without agriculture humanity wouldn’t exist. Educating the youth is the best way to keep adding to the culture. In todays world people are separated from agriculture and are easily persuaded in regards to their food choices. When presented with words such as GMO, organic, grass fed, and cage free it can be very confusing if you have no clue what those words even mean. When you study food labels and advertisements it is challenging to choose what is the best option. Simple education about agriculture could help the next generation make educated choices at the grocery store and hopefully join the culture!

Interested in agriculture? Here’s the good news, it’s not just cows and plows and anyone can find their place within our culture. The agriculture field has numerous of opportunities in many different fields (literally and figuratively)!

Here are some helpful links to get to help get you started in agriCULTURE!

• https://4-h.org/about/

• https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/local-regional/food-directories

• https://www.ffa.org

About the Author

My name is Maggie McStay! I call Wyoming ( yes its real) home. I am a junior at Western Illinois University where I am pursuing an Animal Science Degree and compete on the livestock judging team. I hope to become a cattle embryologist after receiving my degree.

A Small-Town Girl Navigating the Ag World

Growing up in a very small rural Illinois town, agriculture will always be relevant to you in some way or another. When I was younger, my perception of agriculture was very limited. When I thought of agriculture, I thought of combines, tractors, and the farmers you’d see at the local diner meeting up for their daily lunch. I would soon find out that agriculture encapsulates so much more than that.

One of the welcome signs leading into my hometown; photo credits to Kelly Martin on Wikipedia

I grew up in Galva, Illinois; a small rural town with a population of about 2,600. Don’t get me wrong, farming is pretty much everything where I grew up. However, its relevance wasn’t truly emphasized to me until I reached high school. I grew up with two brothers (we are actually triplets!) and a younger sister. We all share a love of the outdoors and for animals. Our parents took us camping and fishing a lot growing up, which guided me to want to pursue a career in lake and wildlife management.

This is a family picture in front of one of the barns on my grandparents’ farm; photo courtesy of Mersman Memories Photography – Galva, IL.

While in high school, I took quite a few agriculture classes, and they really introduced me to many different areas that agriculture covers. FFA was also a very fun and informative experience for me. I learned a lot about crops, horticulture, animal health/science, public speaking, and much more. I did all the CDE’s I could, and I loved them! Eventually, once I became an upperclassman, I decided to become a junior chapter officer for my high school. I loved being involved and wearing official dress. My senior year I was voted in as the president of my school’s FFA chapter. That was such a cool experience for me, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Throughout high school I, along with my brothers, worked as a lifeguard at Little John Conservation Club. This was a cool experience because when we were on break or when there weren’t any swimmers, we got the opportunity to fish and spend time outdoors. This was a great job for us because we enjoyed it and we made some valuable connections. My brothers and I also have had the opportunity to work alongside Herman Brothers Realty, Lake, and Land Management and Little John Conservation Club to help stock the lakes with fish, electrofishing, and lake surveying for a few years now. This has been a great career building opportunity. My brothers and I also spent time working for the Colony Tree Service and as farm hands for some family friends. This definitely helped me get acquainted with some farm equipment and put a lot of things in perspective about how things look day to day on a family farm. I got a lot of valuable hands-on experience working these jobs!

My most recent electrofishing experience, these 2 largemouth bass were the trophies of the day.

My brothers and I after electrofishing and shocking up 2 large flathead catfish and a channel catfish. This was our first electrofishing experience.

After graduating high school, I decided to make the long trip to attend Black Hawk East (about a 7-minute drive). While at Black Hawk, I decided to pursue an Associates of Science degree before transferring here to WIU. There I took some animal science and animal health classes that I absolutely loved. I learned so much more than I anticipated. I am very grateful to have been taught by Dan Hoge, he never made us students that didn’t have a vast agriculture background feel singled out. I feel I benefited most from the hands-on labs that I attended at BHE. I got to see a lot of stuff I’ve never seen before right in front of me, and even participate in them from time to time. I also really enjoyed learning about soil science and biology while at BHE.

My experience in FFA, my time and experiences at Black Hawk East, my career building experience with Herman Brothers Realty, Lake, and Land Management and Little John Conservation Club, and my experiences thus far at WIU have fueled my passion for agriculture and have truly helped me get to where I am today. I have learned so much so far and want to continue learning every day. For those who feel that they won’t belong anywhere in agriculture, chances are you’re wrong! I was once in your shoes! Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone and take the next step in pursuing your passion; whether that’s taking a class you’re interested in, talking to farmers or other representatives in ag, or even just exploring social media forums to learn more about your interests. I guarantee you there will be people in your corner willing to help you learn and grow!

Meet the Author:

WIU Career Fair – Fall 2022

Hello everyone! I am Tressa Rogers, a junior here at Western Illinois University. I am from Galva, IL. I am currently majoring in Agriculture Science with a minor in Natural Resources Conservation. After WIU, I plan on working in lake and wildlife management. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

Coming back to the Farm, Family and Agriculture

It’s my freshman year of high school and the State FFA Officers came to visit and had us fill out these goal cards.  If you had asked me then or even at the beginning  of my senior year I would have told you nursing or something in the medical field. Losing my great grandpa at the end of my senior year changed all of that. The land that he worked on for just over 60 years somehow became the only place I could truly think.  I signed up for classes just days after his funeral trading everything I had planned for years for his passion, agriculture. 

Willard “Pop” Sipp, my Great-Grandfather photo by Mary Plumer

Fast forward about ten years, the goals I had set were long forgotten, replaced instead by the mundane events of a job that I didn’t mind, and was good at, but there was something missing. Occasionally, I would be asked to judge a rabbit show or help with the local Parli-pro team. These things reminded me of that passion I had for FFA, agriculture, and helping the next generation of leaders. One day after hearing me go on about how much I missed these things, my husband looked at me and said “You need to go back to school.” After about a month of reflection and truthfully trying to find some excuse to not go back to school, I finally realized that it was now or never. If I wanted to find a career that I was truly happy in I needed to sign up for classes. The first two semesters back I chose to only take two classes balancing a full time job and trying to get back into the swing of studying and homework.  When I came to WIU I decided that it was time to just push through and finish my degree as soon as possible.  The first week wasn’t easy; I was almost ten years older than most of my classmates and sometimes I even felt I had more in common with my professors than the other students. However, through the semester at Western, I have been able to find a place through involvement in clubs, conversations with fellow classmates and our shared passion for agriculture. That passion may look slightly different for each of us but that is what makes the field of agriculture such a great place, as it brings all different kinds of people together. 

Being a nontraditional student has had its challenges: between work, not having the same type of social life my fellow students or even others my age do, and my responsibilities at home, along with driving 12 hours a week to class. These challenges are similar to the challenges faced in the world by agriculturists. There will never be enough hours in that day and we may not always feel like we perfectly fit in with others, however we have one thing that connects us all: a passion for agriculture.   These are all things that I am anxious to carry forward as I continue my journey back to FFA  as a High School Agriculture Teacher, and back to the family farm that my great grandpa purchased in the 1940’s and worked on until his last days.

The farm my great grandpa purchased in the 1940’s and spent almost everyday of his life working on until 2011 when he passed the farm on to his family.

“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty….I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” – Theodore Roosevelt

About the Author

Laurel and her husband Justin, live outside Hanna City, IL. with their two dogs and her grandmother. She is a non-traditional student at WIU pursuing an Agriculture Eduction degree. She hopes to return home to teach and take over the family farm. Having grown up on one of the many “funny farms” in the area, Laurel hopes to have one of her own one day, with chickens, rabbits, sheep, and cattle. Laurel is currently fulfilling a GAST Internship with Williamsfield High School and is looking forward to the Agricultural Education Pre-Service Internship Program administered by Richland Community College this summer.

Always an Ag-Vocate

Being from a small town, stereotypes are the norm. I graduated high school in a class of 39, where crop fields bordered all sides of the building and cell service was a 10-mile drive away. If you were to ask someone from that class what my stereotypes were, the answer would be somewhere along the lines of “farmer’s daughter,” “ag kid,” “FFA president,” and the list goes on. Farming was my background, my world that I was familiar with. I can’t think of more perfect stereotypes to have.

Our Centennial Farm sign from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, standing at the family farm. (Personal Photo)

People who grew up in an agriculture background, such as myself, know that farming in the Midwest is a rewarding career that does not always come easily. Growing up, I was pretty sheltered from the challenges that farmers face every were faced with every day. My dad would come home from work and ask about our day, show up to every sporting event or give me a ride home from an FFA contest without any hesitation. It wasn’t until I started becoming a helping part of the business that I discovered it’s not always sunny days and Gator rides.

Being a part of an Ag community is a blessing. However, I have learned that if we aren’t educating others and advocating for our local farmers, there is little hope for a promising future for our farmers. The struggles that they face should be rewarded and appreciated by everyone, not just their friends and neighbors.

2022 American Degree Ceremony, accepting my degree for my Agricultural Communications record book.

During high school, I kept an FFA record book on Agricultural Communications. My goal was to expand this book as much as possible by graduation. I managed social media for both my FFA chapter and section, tried my hand at radio interviews for community events, and used social media as a way to advocate for the betterment of agriculture on small-scale family farms. I knew that these experiences would not stop once I graduated from high school.

Attending WIU is a decision that I would make 100 times over again. At first, I was hesitant. I didn’t want to choose the closest college from my home, in fear of holding myself back from larger opportunities. Looking back, however, WIU was the perfect fit for me in so many ways. After attending an Open House event for the School of Agriculture, I knew that is where I would be continuing my education. And I knew I would join the AgVocators group. 

AgVocators Group at the Fall 2022 Ag Open House. (WIU School of Agriculture Photo)

AgVocators is an organization that recruits for the School of Agriculture by speaking with students about all of the opportunities that we get to take advantage of every day. Going to high schools and showing them the value of small class sizes, hands-on learning, and extracurricular involvement in all areas, has had an outstanding impact on my love for WIU, and my passion for agricultural advocacy. The feeling of helping students to find their direction is incredibly fulfilling, but sometimes I think that it helps me even more. In an ever-changing world, it is our responsibility to think of our farmers first. I know that wherever my life takes me, I will always continue to be an Ag-Vocate.

About the Author

Hey everyone, my name is Ryann Zimmerman and I am a Junior here at WIU! I am an Agribusiness major with a minor in Economics, and I am involved with many extracurricular organizations such as AgVocators, Sigma Alpha, and Collegiate Farm Bureau. I am a farm girl through and through, and I’m so grateful to share my passion for the Ag industry through this blog!

Farming: It’s a Family Tradition

A military Colonel with the dreams and ambitions of most young men in the 1800s, agriculture, are the roots of our family’s seven generation farm. In 1835, Colonel J.C. Anderson and his son W.C. had a dream: to be able to buy land and turn it into their main source of income. This land was bought during that time for a dollar an acre.

Following the American Civil War, expansion of the farm became necessary for the farm to continue to grow and prosper. In 1867, W.C. and his wife, Mary Ann, built the barn that stands on our farm today, where I have made many memories, including singing from the upper deck as a boy. W.C. and Mary Ann then had their son David, a prolific livestock farmer and land buyer known by most in our area.

Pictured is a sign my Dad and I made together that we display in our yard.

In Macoupin County, prior to the booming 1920’s, Standard Oil Company made its way to central Illinois, helping our community to flourish in that time. Oil mines were scattered in central Illinois and present-day Standard City was prime location for an oil mine, located about a mile north of our farm. Before the boom of Standard Oil, W.C. and David had bought the land that is now the village of Standard City. When the oil company found the mine, David was able to sell the ground to a gentleman by the name of Rice, who intended to plat Standard City. David and his newest son, Alva then built our present-day house for $13,000 with no mortgage.

 Alva provided his son Tary, my grandfather, with the acres surrounding the farmstead, who, provided his sons, Roger, my father, and Mark the same opportunity. I am currently the seventh generation to farm this ground. Being a seventh-generation farmer on our farm makes me proud because of the hard work and dedication my ancestors have went through to give me this opportunity, and to be able to be the first generation to attend and graduate college so that I can bring that information back to the farm and improve our operation for future generations. I am especially proud because of the decline in family farms in the US today.

Pictured is my Dad and I in front of our barn.

 Although I was not able to meet my grandpa, I will be forever grateful that I get to follow in his footsteps. A quote that my grandpa told my father before I was born was,

“When you have land, you have attachments to it, do everything in your power to ensure that our generations will live on.”

My Grandpa, Tary F. Anderson

Without the farm, I would not have the passion for agriculture and the dreams that I have today, and I hope that in the future I am able to continue this legacy for my own children.

About the Author

Hi, my name is Fuller Anderson and I’m a junior at WIU. I’m from Atwater, IL. I am majoring in Ag Business and minoring in Agronomy and Agriculture Economics. I’m involved in many on campus organizations such as Agronomy Club, Collegiate FFA, and Collegiate Farm Bureau. My plans for after graduation are to run our family farm and start my career in Grain Merchandising. Thank you for reading my blog!

Empowering Women in Agriculture

Growing up, I found myself feeling discouraged quite often. I felt like I wasn’t like other girls, but being different at a young age felt wrong. Although I grew up in a rural area, on a cattle farm like most of my childhood friends, I wasn’t interested in the same stuff they were. Makeup, nails, shopping, and anything girly did not appeal to me the way it did for them. I was more focused on the future, what career I would pursue and helping my dad on our family farm.

From the beginning of my life, I loved going to the farm with my dad. I spent much of my childhood summers with my grandparents, who also lived on our family farm. It’s needless to say that much of my time was spent outside, playing with my cousins. My favorite memory of the summer was when the creek was full and we could slide our rubber boots on and splash around in the creek.

The above picture is a view from our south field on Kerpash-Tapley Farms, where I’m from. We raise angus cattle.

On the family farm is where my love for agriculture really sparked. Since I was 10, I have dreamed about being the next generation to farm on our family farm. I would ponder the plans in my head, constantly thinking about how much money I would need to save and how much education I would need. However, my whole perspective changed when I joined FFA my freshman year of high school.

My favorite quote that I learned while memorizing the FFA Creed, is:

“I believe in the future of agriculture…”

E.M. Tiffany

Although I joined FFA in 7^th grade, there were not as many opportunities for children in middle school. So, my freshman year of high school, I was unaware of the opportunities I would be presented, and how they would change my life. Before becoming a freshman, I was determined to be a elementary teacher. I had only considered jobs women traditionally work in, such as nursing and teaching. Throughout my first year in high school, I learned about public speaking, learned about agriculture, and was presented the opportunity to pursue a future career in the field.

The above picture is me at Officer Retreat, 2020

From there, my love for agriculture grew immensely. Throughout high school, I was able to meet other women in agriculture, learn more about livestock practices, and even won the Missouri FFA 2021 Food Science Contest. FFA was a large part of my decision to pursue agriculture as my career and my future. Without it, I don’t think I would have been so passionate about the future of agriculture.

Without organizations like the National FFA, where would the future generations learn about agriculture? I’ve been fortunate enough to transfer to WIU in 2022 and it was the best decision I have ever made. Another key component to encouraging women to pursue agricultural careers, contrary to what we may grow up believing, is having an encouraging, supportive agriculture program to further their education. WIU School of Agriculture has been more supportive than ever, helping me to gain experience through an internship, working on our school farm, and giving me opportunities through organizations to participate in conferences and be a part of the future of agriculture. This is an essential part of encouraging women to pursue their dreams in agriculture.

The above picture is of some of the newly born calves of the 2023 calving season on the WIU Livestock Farm.

The above picture is my friends and I at a WIU football game during the 2022 season.

 Empowering women in agriculture is the future. There are so many women like me, who believe that women belong in some careers, while men belong in others. However, women and men should have the same opportunities to be the future in whatever field they want. For so long, women were not recognized as part of the agriculture industry, but now it is time that we recognize their accomplishments and successes. Since I have pushed past judgement, and started my career in agriculture, I have been told by many in my family of how proud they are that I am doing something to better the world. I hope that one day, I can inspire more women to pursue agriculture and grow passion for something that matters.

About the Author

Hi everyone, my name is Kaitlin Tapley and I am a junior here at WIU. My hometown is Elsberry, Missouri. I’m majoring in Agribusiness with a minor in Animal Science. I’m involved in many on campus organizations including Collegiate Farm Bureau, Ag Vocators, and Collegiate FFA, which I am the treasurer of. My plans for after graduation are to use my degree to excel in the agriculture industry and start my own small cattle farm. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

My Path to Agriculture

Growing up, I had no background in agriculture. Little did I know that agriculture was my dream field. When people think of agriculture they probably imagine farmers, farm animals, and food crops. When I was younger, I would have definitely agreed that was the scope of agriculture, but agriculture is a much broader field than that.

Since I was little, I have always wanted to be a veterinarian. I had a profound love of animals from a very young age. I would always tell my mother that I wanted to be a veterinarian when I grew up. In fact, I would bring home animal fact books in kindergarten to be read to me as bedtime stories. Fact books that most children would find boring and monotonous, I found absolutely perfect. I remember in middle school I started running out of new books to read because I would read so many in a short amount of time.

When I got to high school, I noticed that I could sign up for an animal science class-but first I need to pass an introduction class. At first, I did not understand why I needed to take the course in order to take the animal science class. The class was an introduction to agriculture class and it was my first real experience learning about agriculture and its components like the FFA. One of the things that struck me in this class is how diverse the agriculture industry is. While farmers, farm animals, and growing crops make up a sizeable part of agriculture, most jobs involving work with animals, plants, and food all fall under agriculture. My dream of being a veterinarian is a job under the scope of agriculture. Without taking that introductory course, I likely would not have realized that for a while.

At Western Illinois University, I got to experience many firsts. I learned how to handle hogs, cattle, and sheep. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time so far at college and all the new experiences it as brought me. Going off to college I knew that I was going to be majoring in agriculture in order to achieve my dream, and while going off to college was a big step for me at first – as it is for most people – I always remember a quote I heard a long time ago. “You will never know how far you can go by staying where you are”.

By: Alyssa Ring

Hello, My name is Alyssa Ring. I am a junior here at Western Illinois University. I am majoring in Agriculture Science with a focus on animals and a minor in chemistry. Once I earn my bachelor’s I hope to head off to an accredited vet school to become a veterinarian. I grew up in a small town in Illinois. In my free time, I enjoy reading and hanging out with my friends.