Kylie Peterson Joins CAST Staff
Kylie Peterson grew up on a cattle farm, and
even though her years at Iowa State University pulled her away from home, she
hopes to keep at least one cowgirl boot in the pastures and feedlots of that
reclaimed coal mining land near Albia, Iowa. “I started showing cattle in 4th
grade, so it’s part of my life. I love working with livestock and using my
experiences to converse with others about agriculture.”
Ten-year-olds don’t always take to farm life,
but Kylie was a natural. The first bottle calf she showed cost $100—and lots of
time, effort, and patience. Her family’s pasture and row crop acres support a
thriving purebred
Simmental cattle operation, and within a few years, Kylie was
actively involved with the Iowa and American Junior Simmental Associations. While
working with cattle and judging livestock, she also developed valuable life
skills such as public speaking, responsibility, time management, and work ethic.
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| Cowgirl Kylie with Buck, the obstinate steer. |
Of course, every happy story has to have a
“Buck” in it, and for Kylie, that came in the package of a 1,200-pound steer. As
she explains, “Buck had me ‘buffaloed’ in a sense. I hated working with him as
he would either drag me around the feed lot or throw me up against barns.” Kylie
loves cattle, but she reluctantly admits, “I wasn’t sad to see Buck get loaded
up for that last trip to the processing plant.”
At ISU, Kylie was involved with Sigma Alpha
(pro-ag sorority), Block and Bridle Club, and a number of other campus
organizations. She used her love of photography while making advertisements and
catalogs for the 2016 Tradition of Excellence Beef Sales Team, and she added to her
writing and social media skills at the Egg Industry Center—designing brochures;
composing content; and managing the organization’s Twitter account, Facebook
presence, and website.
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| Kylie (middle) with her parents, sisters, and dog named Duke. |
During her years of study, she continued to
touch base with the home farm—she hasn’t lost her abilities to help with breeding, calving, tagging, vaccinations, and other chores. Designing an impressive web
page is challenging, but helping deliver a calf late at night in frigid
weather? That accomplishment produces immediate feedback when the newborn first
stands on its trembling, awkward legs.
After graduating with a degree in agriculture, Kylie
accepted a position at the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. As
she said, “My passion is to serve as an advocate for the agricultural industry
through communications. It is a beautiful thing when a career and a passion
come together, and I look forward to bringing that enthusiasm for the industry
to CAST.”
It's clear that the family farm has been the
foundation for Kylie’s aspirations. As she points out, “My parents always
encouraged my two sisters and me to surround ourselves with people who believe
in our dreams. With determination and lots of hard work, you can accomplish anything.” Luckily for the world of agriculture, Kylie’s dreams include
communicating about science, food production, and the varied people who keep us
fed. The CAST community welcomes her.
by dan gogerty
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