What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri?  

I am a livestock specialist for Boone, Howard and Randolph counties, as well as the statewide poultry specialist. I provide educational opportunities to producers and youth on all species of livestock, including chickens, small ruminants, swine and cattle. 

How long have you worked in this position? 

I started as a part-time backfill livestock specialist for Mark Stewart in Callaway County in 2008 and was offered the position full time in 2011. I remained in Callaway County until 2017 when I was offered the position in Howard County. 

What is your favorite part about the work you do? 

I love providing hands-on learning opportunities for producers and youth.  I believe it is a privilege and responsibility to provide our communities with something more than what can be looked up, read in a book or surfed out on the internet. I strive to provide something hands-on or tangible for learners to experience that they cannot get anywhere else. I love the “lightbulb” moment, the “I did it” moment, and the “This is so cool” moment. I love involving all parts of the brain in the learning experience. 

As a swine repro girl, I love talking about the hormones of reproduction. Looking at hormone levels as an orchestra. One hormone crescendos, while another decrescendos and what section each one comes from. I love talking about the science behind reproduction, the science behind why we do the things we do when raising and caring for livestock.   

I love making a difference. For example, a very shy young lady came running up to me at the fairgrounds and started telling me the story about how her dad was gone and there was a heifer having trouble calving. She gave me the play by play on how just she and her mom were able to pull the calf by using the tools and tricks she had learned (through hands-on learning) in one of my calving clinics. Her eyes were so big, and she was just so excited to tell the story. The impact is the price of the calf she was able to save. The outcome was the knowledge she gained, which led to her being able to save that calf; however, that was not the only outcome. The calving clinic gave her the confidence to take on the situation that is usually considered an adult male’s job. We empowered this young lady to pull her boots on, step into a “man’s world,” and save the calf and heifer. That is what makes a difference. 

There are a lot of favorites! 

How are you helping MU A&E Extension reach our #2xAg2030 goal? 

I am helping MU Extension reach our #2xAg2030 goal by providing high-impact, hands-on learning opportunities to women livestock producers through the Pearls of Production: Women in Agriculture Conference. By building skills, confidence, and farm-level profitability, this event empowers women to expand and improve their operations —contributing directly to the growth of Missouri’s livestock sector. Given that nearly half of all U.S. women-operated farms focus on livestock, these efforts target a significant and growing contributor to the state’s ag economy. 
 
Additionally, in my new statewide poultry role, I’m working to help producers turn small-scale flocks into viable business ventures. By supporting both new and expanding poultry enterprises — from layers to meat birds — I’m helping Missourians create income-generating opportunities, diversify farm operations, and strengthen local food systems. These efforts directly support the goal of doubling Missouri agriculture’s economic impact by 2030. 

What is something your CAFNR and MU Extension teammates may not know about you? 

I was homecoming princess my freshman year of high school. I tried to get out of it, but the sponsor said I was nominated by my peers (aka the football team) and couldn’t get out of it. I managed the high school football team, and it was so painful sitting in the stands with “court” instead of being on the sidelines with the team. The sponsor let me go at half time. 

I was a member of the National FFA Band during my freshman and sophomore years and was one of the youngest members of the band. 

What is your hometown, place of high school graduation, and degrees/universities? 

I am originally from El Dorado Springs, MO, where I graduated high school in 2002.  I earned my undergraduate degree in animal science in 2007 and my graduate degree in swine reproduction and genetics in 2010, both from the University of Missouri.