My passion for agriculture runs deep, rooted in my childhood experiences helping my dad with livestock and hay, and now proudly operating our third-generation family farm with my husband and father-in-law. I grew up in Bat Cave, a small town in western North Carolina, and haven't gone too far—our farm is only a few miles from my childhood home. Those early experiences instilled in me a love of agriculture, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to others, all of which prepared me for the rewarding journey of long days, exciting challenges, and service to others. After working as a dental assistant for several years, the transition was made to full-time on the farm. That's not completely true, as any farm family knows you are full-time on the farm even if you have an off-farm job; the transition was to even more full-time on the farm. Every day is different and brings unique responsibilities and challenges. I embrace each day with flexibility, adaptability, and most of all, humor. As a mother of two, my perspective on advocacy and preserving the future of agriculture has evolved, focusing on bridging the awareness gap for those farther removed from agriculture.