I’m a Missouri-born, Nebraska transplant who grew up on my family’s row crop farm in northeast Missouri. Today, I live and work in Nebraska, where I’ve built my career in the seed and row crop industry and continue to find ways to contribute to the agricultural community around me.

I currently work in Production Contracts & Field Operations, supporting both corn and soybean production. I’ve spent 17 years in row crop production, building experience across technical operations, project and program management, organizational readiness, change management, continuous improvement, and talent development. My career has given me the opportunity to work alongside incredibly talented people and see firsthand how innovation, technology and strong teams continue to shape the future of agriculture.

Beyond my day-to-day role, I’m passionate about developing people, building strong teams and creating opportunities for others to grow. I’ve been involved in early talent recruiting and development, leadership programs, and initiatives that strengthen connection and collaboration across our industry. Supporting and empowering women in agriculture is also an important part of that work. I’m a founding member of a women’s network focused in Production and currently lead the U.S. women's network across all three divisions, creating opportunities for connection, mentorship and leadership.

I’m proud to be part of an industry that feeds and fuels the world, but I’m equally passionate about the people behind agriculture. I believe our industry is strongest when we invest in both innovation and people, and I’m excited to continue using my experience and voice to help shape what comes next.

Describe your AFA experience as a student.

As a student, my AFA experience was one of the first times I intentionally invested in my own personal development. Growing up as a farm kid in northeast Missouri, I was naturally focused on agriculture and the technical knowledge and experiences that would prepare me for a career in the industry. AFA opened my eyes to the importance of developing the person behind the career.

I was learning to think about things like communication, leadership, relationships and understanding myself—not just as skills for a job, but as important parts of becoming the kind of professional and leader I wanted to be. That was a meaningful shift in perspective for me.

AFA also gave me the opportunity to learn alongside other students who were passionate about agriculture but came from different backgrounds and experiences. There was something powerful about being part of a group of young people who were all figuring out their place in agriculture together.

I probably didn’t realize at the time how much that experience would stay with me. Looking back, AFA helped me understand that investing in yourself is just as important as investing in your career. And today, when I think about the students I experienced AFA with, I’m proud to see the many ways we are now contributing to agriculture. We took those early experiences and have carried them into different corners of the industry, helping make agriculture stronger, more connected and more innovative.

That is one of the things I appreciate most about AFA—it doesn’t just develop agriculture professionals. It invests in the people who will shape the future of agriculture.

How did your AFA Student experience influence your career journey?

As a student, my AFA experience helped me understand that a passion for agriculture was just the beginning. Thriving in this industry also requires the skills, confidence and relationships to navigate a career and make an impact.

One of the most meaningful parts of my AFA experience was developing skills beyond technical knowledge—communication, leadership, relationship-building and the ability to work alongside others. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my career and have become skills I continue to rely on and encourage others to develop.

AFA also gave me a sense of community. Being surrounded by other students who were passionate about agriculture helped me see that there was a place for me in this industry and that I didn’t have to navigate my career journey alone.

I appreciate the impact of those experiences even more now than I did as a student. Coming back to AFA as an alum gave me a new perspective on the intentionality behind the student experience and the lasting impact of the connections and skills students gain. It’s meaningful to now be part of creating that same sense of community and opportunity for students who are beginning their own journeys in agriculture.

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

At the time, AFA helped me understand my place in agriculture could be bigger than the farm and the experiences I grew up with. I already knew I wanted a career in agriculture, but AFA gave me an opportunity to see the many different ways I could contribute to an industry I cared deeply about.

Being surrounded by other students with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives also helped me recognize the value of my own story. I didn’t have to have all the answers or be the most experienced person in the room to have something meaningful to contribute. I could lead by being curious, building relationships, listening to others and bringing people together around a shared purpose.

I don’t know that I had a defined “leadership style” at the time, but AFA gave me an early glimpse of the kind of leader I wanted to become—someone who creates connections, encourages others and helps people see what they are capable of.

Looking back now, I can see how those early experiences became a foundation for the way I’ve approached my career. I’ve learned that leadership in agriculture isn’t always about having the loudest voice or being the person with the most expertise. Often, it’s about bringing people together, creating opportunities for others and helping move our industry forward together.

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

The lesson from AFA that has been most useful in my professional life is that success in agriculture requires more than technical knowledge. It requires the ability to communicate, build relationships, collaborate with others and continue learning from the people around you.

AFA helped me begin developing those skills early in my career. As a student, I was surrounded by people with different experiences and perspectives, and I learned the value of stepping outside of what I knew and listening to others. Those skills have become some of the most important ones I rely on throughout my career.

Agriculture is constantly evolving, and no one person has all the answers. Whether I’m working through a complex production challenge, leading a project, developing people or helping teams navigate change, I’ve learned that the strongest outcomes come from bringing people together, creating space for different perspectives and finding a way forward together.

That mindset has probably been more valuable to me than any single technical skill. AFA helped me see early on that the strength of agriculture isn’t just in what we produce—it’s in the people who come together to move the industry forward.

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

I’ve stayed connected to AFA throughout my professional career because I believe in the impact it has on developing the next generation of agriculture leaders. After experiencing AFA as a student, I’ve had the opportunity to give back in several ways.

I served for two years on the AFA Alliance Board as the Membership Chair, where I gained a deep appreciation for keeping the organization’s alumni and the community it creates strong.

Today, I continue to return to AFA as a representative of Bayer and a partner sponsor. Being able to reconnect with students, share my experiences in agriculture, and help them see the many possibilities for a career in our industry is incredibly meaningful to me.

AFA is important to me because it creates more than professional development opportunities — it builds relationships, confidence and a sense of belonging within agriculture. I’ve seen the value of that community from both sides, first as a student and now as a professional. Being able to stay involved allows me to invest in an organization that invested in me and to help ensure the next generation has the same opportunities to grow, connect and find their place in agriculture.

Finish this sentence: Because of AFA, I…

Because of AFA, I not only found my place in agriculture, but I also discovered the importance of helping others find theirs.

As a student, AFA opened my eyes to the breadth of opportunities within agriculture and connected me with people who challenged me to think bigger about what my career could look like. It gave me confidence, expanded my perspective and showed me the power of building relationships with others who were passionate about agriculture and its future.

Those experiences have stayed with me throughout my career. AFA became more than a student experience—it became a community I wanted to continue being part of and investing in. The relationships I built through AFA have continued to influence me personally and professionally, reminding me that agriculture is ultimately about the people who make up our industry.

Coming back to AFA as a professional is especially meaningful because I get to be on the other side of the experience. I can share what I’ve learned throughout my career, connect with students who are figuring out where they fit in agriculture, and hopefully help them see possibilities they may not have considered.

AFA helped me see that there is no single path into agriculture and that some of the most valuable parts of a career are the people you meet, the relationships you build and the opportunities you say yes to. I’m grateful to have experienced that as a student and even more grateful to now have the opportunity to give back and help create that experience for others.