Greetings! Since I am a new face in this magazine, I would like to introduce myself.
I was born and raised on a farm in Clare – about eight miles west of Sycamore. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t involved in helping with the cattle and pigs we had on pasture. My family also grows crops, but my interest was always with the animals!
Similarly to most farm kids, I was heavily involved in 4-H and eventually FFA during my high school years.
My 4-H club was called the Esmond Echos and my projects included a little bit of baking and art, and a lot of showing cattle and pigs. I have very fond memories of long summers spent at the county fairs.
My first year in 4-H I can remember starting with a bucket calf named Wise Guy. She was half Angus and half Holstein. We didn’t know it then, but Wise Guy would end up being the start of an entire herd of cattle for our farm! She was with us for 16 years and was one of our best cows. She had more than one set of twins over the years, and was happy to share her abundant Holstein milk production with any orphaned calves that may have needed her.
As my college years approached, I knew I wanted to do something in agriculture, but I didn’t know exactly what. I decided to study Agriculture/Animal Science at Illinois State University where I earned my bachelor’s degree and eventually my first job at the Illinois Corn Growers Association. I learned a lot about agribusiness in that role, and even more about my own passion for communications.
In total, I spent seven years in central Illinois before my roots pulled me back home to Clare. In fact, I landed back on a farm just down the road from where I grew up.
Professionally, my career is focused in marketing and communication for both agricultural and non-agricultural organizations. I have spent many years advocating for farmers by communicating directly with consumers, and it is still something I am passionate about today.
I feel so blessed to be raising my own kids here in DeKalb County with the same values I grew up with. They are watching us as we grow a direct-to-consumer farm business where we can interact directly with consumers and listen to conversations about how and why we do what we do.
I am looking forward to sharing a little bit of our farm life with you in the coming months. We care so greatly about what we do, and I hope that comes through in the pages of this magazine.
Until next time!