In this episode, Lauren Moylan interviews Meredith Volquardsen, a graduate student in Ag and Applied Economics at the University of Wyoming. Meredith shares her inspiring journey from a suburban upbringing in California to becoming a passionate advocate for agriculture in Wyoming. She discusses her involvement in various agricultural organizations, her role on the Board of Agriculture, and the importance of mentorship and community in the agricultural sector. Meredith emphasizes the need for openness and willingness to learn in order to find one's place in agriculture, encouraging young people to embrace opportunities and share their stories. In this conversation, Lauren Moylan and Meredith Volquardsen discuss the importance of supporting new farmers and ranchers, the journey of involvement in agriculture, mastering time management, navigating friendships and personal growth, and the significance of advocacy and policy in agriculture. They emphasize the need for community support, the value of surrounding oneself with positive influences, and the importance of being honest about one's priorities and capabilities. Meredith shares her experiences in advocating for agriculture on Capitol Hill and the necessity for agriculturalists to engage with their communities and policymakers.
Links:
Meredith's Instagram - Tiktok - The Next Generation Website - Follow us on Instagram!
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Takeaways
Meredith is a graduate student focusing on ranch diversification.
She serves on the Board of Agriculture for Wyoming, representing the Southeast region.
Her journey into agriculture began with a volunteer opportunity after a sports injury.
Meredith fought to get involved in FFA despite her high school not having an agriculture program.
She showed various livestock at county fairs, gaining valuable experience.
Transferring to the University of Wyoming opened up new opportunities for her.
Meredith became president of the Collegiate Cattle Association, enhancing her knowledge of the cattle industry.
She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and community support in agriculture.
Meredith encourages young people to ask questions and seek out learning opportunities.
She believes that everyone can find their place in agriculture, regardless of their background. Organizations like Farm Bureau and USDA support new farmers.
Every interaction should aim to be the best experience.
Involvement in agriculture often happens organically.
Striving to leave things better is a key mindset.
Surrounding yourself with supportive people is crucial.
Time management is essential for balancing responsibilities.
It's important to evaluate friendships and their impact.
Achieving success can lead to unexpected negativity from others.
Advocacy can happen at local levels, not just Capitol Hill.
Being yourself in agriculture makes a difference.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Meredith's Journey
11:39 From California to Wyoming: A Transformative Path
23:26 Embracing Opportunities in Agriculture
32:03 Supporting New Farmers and Ranchers
39:14 Mastering Time Management
44:33 Navigating Friendships and Personal Growth
50:22 Advocacy and Policy in Agriculture
agriculture, Wyoming, youth involvement, mentorship, community, economic development, livestock, bison, opportunities, education, agriculture, advocacy, time management, personal growth, policy, farming, ranching, community, support, women in agriculture