Jentry Matthew

Being a woman in a male-dominated field is intimidating. I believe that I can contribute to the agricultural industry now and in the future. I plan on staying in the field to build up my family’s current operation and in my future endeavors.
I want to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I visited it and the agriculture department spoke to me. They have so many resources that I have not been exposed to. Going there I would study agribusiness. I already have most of my core classes so I can focus on my major as a freshman. Doing so will give me more opportunities to minor in another ag field that will benefit me in the future. Personally, I don’t mind school or learning. I want to expand my horizons in the industry that I have been surrounded by my whole life, one that has been a major influence in my upbringing.
In the future, I plan on coming back to my hometown to help my family in their business. I know that I don’t want to come back right away but I know that I will follow in my father’s footsteps and run the ranching and farming business. There are so many different industries that are under the agricultural umbrella. I want to stray away from home to experience what the world has to offer and hopefully learn new things that I can use to build up the operation that my heart will always be drawn to.
My family has been through so much to get to where they are. The hardship built them up instead of breaking them. There was a time when my parents started the operation, and now is thriving, when everyone told them to quit or that it won't work. There was so much that could have gone wrong and I'm sure it did, but they pushed through to give us, their children, what they never had. They instilled in me that you have to work for everything you have. Everything has a price or a goal that you need to do everything in your power to get. Despite what people may think, nothing has been handed to me. I’ve done my share of work to earn what I have. I want to instill the same morals in my children and push others around me to do the same.
Being a woman in AG will be a struggle. I believe that a good education and being knowledgeable will get you far in the industry. I want to be able to provide for my family and be comfortable financially. I don’t want my family to know the struggle, but they will know how to work for what they have as I did, as my parents did, as my grandparents did, and as my great-grandparents did.