BUNKHOUSE
the next chapter
lifelong agvocate ready for the big leagues by Associate Director of Communications Maureen LaGrande When I was in the seventh grade my mother took my sister and I to tour her alma matter, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. While there she shared with us all the cherished memories of her college experiences in the agriculture department, with hopes that my sister or I may like the school as well. During this tour I turned to her and said, “There is NO way I would ever go to a college you went to, we are totally different people.” Fast forward ten years I look back and laugh at my younger self. Let’s just say as I aged, my opinion of my mom’s alma matter had changed as well. As summer of 2017 came to an end, I was off to Cal Poly to study agricultural communications. I truly believe my choice to attend Cal Poly allowed me to be entering the work force in a job that I have always dreamed of having. Growing up in rural Sites, Calif. I enjoyed the simple things in life such as the breeze running through the oak trees and the bawling of neighboring cattle throughout the night. During my summers I spent my time driving around rice fields and almond orchards with my dad eagerly listening to all his farming stories. Trading in the rural country for the city of San Luis Obispo (SLO) to attend college was quite a change, but full of endless possibilities. Right off the bat I found myself mesmerized by the exquisite cuisine, beaches, the proximity of a grocery store and of course the breathtaking views. While I missed the peacefulness of home, the city of SLO was the next best place to be. During my time at Cal Poly, I was active in Cal Poly’s Young Cattlemen’s Association (YCA) club where I learned current issues and connected with others in the industry. Being part of YCA led me to serving as an intern at CCA’s Annual Convention, where I gained my first real experience of the Association. What a thrill it was to shadow the CCA Staff, help members in attendance and mingle with all those who were there to celebrate industry accomplishments. While my internship was only during the duration of the convention, I knew that CCA was a place that I wanted
18 California Cattleman July • August 2022
to work. Participating as a YCA member led me to sign up for the Cal Poly Bull Test Enterprise, another highlight of my college career. Serving as the Bull Test Secretary I gained office experience, met all the great consignors and enriched myself in the history of the Cal Poly Bull Test. As an agricultural communications major, I learned of so many different outlets to communicate the story of agriculture through design, writing, speaking and photography. Of all these photography was my favorite. I found that an image itself could tell a story—whether it is through the dirt on a farmer’s hands or a newborn calf basking in the warm sunlight. My camera is an item that I tote with me everywhere ready to capture a moment that can live on forever. Unfortunately, my college career was intercepted by COVID and my hands on classes turned into ZOOM University. While we all learned to adapt, I was thrilled when I was accepted into Cal Poly’s Master of Agricultural Education Program to spend a little more time in SLO. During this last year I enjoyed all that the Central Coast had to offer including cute coffee shops, long beach walks and time spent with college friends. The master’s program furthered my knowledge of agricultural communication practices, helping to prepare me for a future career. As I walked across the stage in Spanos Stadium in June to accept my diploma, I closed a chapter to begin anew. I am thrilled to start my career as the associate director of communications here in Sacramento and be a part of the CCA team. I look forward to meeting all our members and to continuing to advocate for the beef industry.
