In April, my meat science class partnered with the beef production class at Western Kentucky University, loaded 40 college students on a charter bus, and headed west. Dr. Gordon Jones, my meats professor and advisor, knows someone everywhere who has done something … Continue reading
It was the subject of at least one essay every year of grade school: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Like any child, each year I had a different answer. One year it was hog farmer the … Continue reading
Growing up, I had two groups of friends: show friends and school friends. My show friends were the kids I had spent my summers with since I was nine years-old. They were my livestock judging teammates and livestock showing … Continue reading
My boyfriend and my laptop are in a constant competition for my attention. Usually, my boyfriend loses. This semester, I dove head first into the world of online journalism. Being a chronic overachiever, I checked out every website that my … Continue reading
In theory, it was a great idea: print the country of origin on all meat products and perishable agricultural commodities. They even came up with a catchy acronym: COOL (Country of Origin Labeling). Consumer lobbyists were happy, politicians were happy, and … Continue reading
Every farm kid can recite an old adage their parents drilled into them from an early age. For me, some of my dad’s clever words come to mind first, “The only way to make money raising pigs is to not raise pigs.” … Continue reading
Journalism is an industry that doesn’t just strive for perfection, it insists upon it. Sources are always verified, facts are double checked, and punctuation is perfect. To me, the inclusion of crowdsourcing will make it harder for journalists to maintain … Continue reading
I don’t do well with people who make fun of the mentally and physically disabled. Beyond the fact that it is just plain cruel, I know the toll that these prejudices take on their victims. My little sister, Anna, was born with a rare liver disease … Continue reading
You know the cliche all too well. That dreaded “When I was your age” line that always led to your parents or grandparents rambling about the dark ages they were raised in, without modern conveniences like cell phones, laptops or microwaves. Admit it, … Continue reading
Everytime I watch the AT&T commercial with that quotable punchline “Idk…my BFF Jill?”, I immediately think of one of my old BFF’s: Candice Orm, my former FFA State Officer Teammate and master text-er. This girl’s texts, facebook messages, and emails are so abbreviated that I often … Continue reading