CALF_News_April_May_2018

38 CALF News • February | March 2018 • www.calfnews.net RaeAnn Blevins is proof that agriculture is in your biology, providing the passion that takes over your mind, heart, and soul that so many of us feel. However, the amazing thing about RaeAnn is that she pursued this dream all on her own. She wasn’t born into a farming or ranching family; she was drawn to it. In an age where the number of large animal veterinarians are dwindling, without reinforcements coming to aid, it’s our responsibility as producers and professionals to foster this kind of desire and usher in a new generation, encourag- ing and leading them each step of the way. The question you need to answer is,“Who am I mentoring. Who am I encouraging to pursue the honorable life of agriculture.” I never grew up on a farm. I was known for being a city girl for many years. My family has never been directly involved with agriculture even though it was all around us. The only time I would ever see a baby calf or a cow was either at the rodeo or on a class field trip to a farm. I always loved it. My mom and dad were raised in south- west Kansas, where I have lived most my life. When I was about six years old, my parents decided to move us to Rogersville, Mo. They wanted to give us a better life with more opportunity. We only lived there for a couple of years, but that’s when I developed a love for horses. Our landlord owned a horse ranch that had at least 100 horses on it, ranging from Quarter Horses to miniature ponies. I used to visit our landlord every couple of days just to see the horses. Eventually, I was asked to help care for the miniature ponies and I fell in love. They moved three ponies directly behind our house where I could care for them. While I learned to feed and groom them, they were teaching me about animals and how much work it takes to care for them properly. I was excited to take on this responsibility and I quickly learned that it was a lot of work. No matter what type of day I had at school, I knew I could go home to the ani- mals and things would be better instantly. It was my escape, my happy place. They needed me just as much as I needed them. My family got really homesick, so we decided to move back to Kansas. I knew it was the right call for my family, but I thought I would never be able to have an experience like that again. My mother began a career at a very large feedyard, working on the business side of the cattle industry. I went to her work one day because I really wanted to see what it was like to be surrounded by cattle. She talked about the view from the second floor of the office and I had to see it for myself. I didn’t have a good understanding of agriculture at the time. I didn’t realize how much work it took to conduct a cattle busi- ness. After working for a summer in the high school human resources office, I knew I wanted to try something a little different, but I knew I wanted it to be in agriculture. During my sophomore year, I met the Zimmerman family and they truly changed my life. They taught me everything I know, and that’s when I knew I had a passion for agriculture. I didn’t fully understand why I felt so drawn to the animals and the land, especially since I didn’t grow up in or around livestock or farming. I would go out to their house every other day and either watch or try to lend a help- ing hand when needed. I’ve watched baby calves being born, rode around to see that the cows had food and water or just to see if any were sick. I’ve been in tractors and combines for hours upon hours, day in and day out, learning how to care for the crops, land and the cattle. One thing I am so grateful for is that they welcomed me and they took the time to introduce me to the world of agriculture. They made me feel like part of their family and they wanted to share their knowledge of agriculture with me and I will never forget it. Even after a hard day’s work when either we were out on the patio listening to Mr. Zimmerman’s stories or just enjoying a meal while they talked about what they were doing the next day, I always listened to what they were saying. The Zimmerman family inspired me to pursue a future in agriculture. I now know my calling and my path. It’s my passion. It’s my escape. It’s my happy place. My future plan for my education is to attend Garden City Community College for two years and receive my associate’s degree in animal science and pre-vet. Then I will move to Oklahoma State University and receive my bachelor’s degree in animal sci- ence and pre-vet. From there, I would like to finish my education with Texas A&M Uni- versity in the school’s veterinary program, receiving my master’s and doctoral degrees. I am very excited to start applying for internships. I will make myself available during the summer and even during school breaks to participate in any internship opportunity offered to me, so I can get more hands-on experience. Upon becoming a large animal vet I would like to do public speaking about the importance of agriculture to chil- dren and young adults. I want to give back by actively participating in community events and education programs to build a stron- ger tomorrow for agriculture and our youth. Planting the seed is the first step to growth. I will make my footprint in agricul- ture. I don’t know how or when, but I will!  young stockman R CALF NEWS PRESENTS R By Aly McClure Contributing Editor