Like most young children, I was a firm believer in Santa Claus. Each Christmas Eve, I would set out a tray with milk and fresh cookies for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer. I always made sure my neatly written wish list of desired presents was left somewhere in plain […]

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I intended to write a blog post outlining my successes over the past year. What was I thankful for? Initially, I planned to write about the satisfaction of starting my Master’s degree, the exciting memory of the day I bought my first car, […]

Harvest season calls me home. There’s something alluring about working on the farm in the crisp autumn air. Waking up to the steady hum of the grain bin fans. Watching the setting sun transform the corn crop into a golden sea of stalks and husks. There’s also a silent satisfaction […]

My involvement in animal agriculture began with a childhood dream. Ever since I was a little girl, I was fascinated by horses and I was determined to have one of my own. “Horse” was always at the top of my wish list…until the day my dad decided to strike a […]

In 2001, my Aunt Patsy was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, one of the rarest cancers affecting soft tissue. At the age of seven, I was too young to understand the consequences of a terminal illness. I was oblivious to how this diagnosis would influence the next three years of my […]

Bedtime stories were always a highlight of my childhood. Both of my parents kindled my imagination by reading aloud from a big blue storybook filled with the adventures of Rapunzel, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Princess and the Pea and many other classic tales. With each turning of the page, […]