From city girl to country life and now living a mix of both, my story changes daily. My family has roots in agriculture. My dad grew up on a small farm with both parents working off-farm. My mom's grandfather raised pigs and crops. By the time I was born in the city of Portsmouth, all the family farmland was rented to other farmers. In fact, the first time I saw a cow or pig was at the zoo. The closest I ever came to cows was that time our 4-H leader took us camping in a local farmer's cow pasture.
So how did this city girl find her way to agriculture? I wanted to be a large animal veterinarian and if you want that career in Virginia, there's only one college to attend.
I majored in Animal Science at Virginia Tech with my eye on vet school until my first semester sophomore year. I don't recommend taking Physics, Anatomy and Organic Chemistry at the same time. Or maybe ever. I finished the semester with a low GPA but also the realization that I liked the production side of livestock better and switched my focus to raising livestock. When I graduated my goal was to be a 4-H agent, but at the time those jobs were hard to come by so I decided to get my Master's Degree while I was still in the mood to be a student. A year later I had my shiny M.S. in Agriculture Education and a job as an Agriculture Agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension.
What's a Agriculture Agent?
I really didn't know the answer to that when I started my first "real" job since my only exposure to Cooperative Extension was 4-H, which is youth development. Turns out agriculture agents work with kids too. I coordinated the county livestock show, taught Junior Master Gardener classes and spent lots of time with the 4-H agent. I also worked with pig, cattle and goat farmers on pasture management, health programs and a variety of other things.
Marketing Specialist
I have been a Marketing Specialist with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for more than 12 years. My role is to promote North Carolina grown sweetpotatoes, strawberries, cotton, peanuts and other crops to consumers. I lived on a farm for 10 years and now have a better understanding of what farmers do to grow and raise the food we eat.
For the past two years I’ve been a member Partners in Advocacy Leadership program offered through American Farm Bureau. Class 11 has ten members from across the country and a variety of agriculture backgrounds including dairy, beef and custom harvesting. Through this program I’ve improved my skills advocating with consumers, media, legislators and even internationally.
Me
Outside of work I spend my days chasing my three sons, getting in a workout, watching the game if I can get the remote, occasionally reading a book and dreaming of feeling my toes in the sand.
Heather lives and writes in eastern North Carolina. She’s available for freelance writing or speaking to your group
Contact Heather for more info.