To be or not to be…..an agvocate.

Now to most people there is a simple answer to this question, of course be an agvocate! The idea of advocating for something that is so near and dear to my heart like agriculture is a no brainer! However, lately when starting to write for my blog I hesitate when it comes to defending my industry.

Many people can tell you that I have never been one for a lack of words. Those same people will also tell you that I hate to be wrong. So when these two worlds come crashing together I become very silent. The truth is I am afraid to agvocate and then be wrong about something that I said.

I did this when presenting my undergraduate research at the ADSA/ASAS Joint Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. I looked at my professor and asked, “What happens if they ask me this impossible question about my research that I don’t have the answer to?” He simply replied, “No one knows your research more than you do, not even me. I only know more about the analysis, so if you get any questions about that just send them to me.” And you wanna know what, HE WAS RIGHT (don’t let him know though)! I received so many questions about what I did by people who were genuinely interested in my research and not on making me look like a fool. I even was able to start a conversation with Dr. Temple Grandin and she gave me some amazing career advice. This one on one conversation eventually turned into all the undergrads (the grad students were out and about) asking her for advice and having a great conversation about what we should be doing to inform the public.



I learned that day that no one knows agriculture better than the people that were raised on a farm, and the farmers themselves. I learned that I should never be scared to voice my opinion and if I am not confident in a piece of information that I wanna share with people I have a whole host of professors at the University of Kentucky that will gladly set me straight. Upon graduating from UK I was given something that most people dream of, a toolbox of resources. Those resources are named, Dr. Bewley, Dr. Heersche, Dr. McAlister, Dr. Bob, DAP, Dr. Aaron, Dr. Thrift, Dr. Ely, Dr. Cromwell, Dr. Cantor, Dr. Pescatore etc. I could go on and on with the names that I have in my contacts list that are more than happy to help me with agvocating and making my future brighter and I honestly wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for their expertise and guidance.