neighbors Submitted Photo
meet your
Rooted in Agriculture By Lindsey Mott
The Collier family has been involved in the agriculture industry as long as they can remember, and that doesn’t seem like it’ll be changing any time soon. Kameran Collier, 18, is the fourth generation of the Collier family to raise Shorthorn cattle on their ranch in Adrian, Mo. Along with her parents, Kirsten and Scott Collier, and brother, Bailey, Kameran is keeping the family tradition alive and well. Agriculture was a clear interest of Kameran’s from a young age. She began showing livestock at just 8 years old, and was involved with her local 4-H club from that point forward. What sparked her interest so early on? She credits her father. “My dad’s family always showed cattle and they went all over for it,” Kameran said. “My dad was always really passionate about it, so that carried over to me and my brother.” It wasn’t long before her passion for showing expanded and took on a different perspective. By the time she was in OCTOBER 25, 2021
Kameran Collier began showing and judging livestock in 4-H fifth grade, Kameran had begun her live- the local, state and national levels, along stock judging career. with both market lambs and goats. Her Her place in the agriculture industry advise to anyone who wants to follow in was only solidified as she entered into her her footsteps is simple. high school years. It was there Kameran “Find a mentor – an advisor or an updove headfirst into her involvement with per classmen and be willing to learn,” she the Adrian FFA Chapter. said. “Learn anything and everything. Be “As a freshman, I knew I wanted to be at a sponge. Absorb it all.” least a chapter officer,” Kameran said. She While Kameran was deeply involved took things a step further her sophomore in 4-H and FFA during her high school year when she interviewed for the Area 7 years, she was also an active member Officer Team. She maintained the Area 7 of the speech and debate team, along Secretary position for the next two years, with playing for Adrian’s volleyball and enjoyed her senior year as president and basketball teams. She found the of her local chapter. inspiration and inherited the drive to Kameran capped off her final year in do it all from one of the closest people the program by taking home the Area to her – her mom. 7 Star Farmer award in ac“She always pushes me to do my abknowledgment of her Supersolute best and strive for more. She’s vised Agriculture Experience a really great support system,” says (SAE) project. Collier’s project Kameran. focused on her love for animal Kameran currently attends agriculture through a diversified Adrian, Mo. Fort Scott Community College livestock program. This was (FSCC) where she is continuachieved by raising and showing ing to follow her passions. her registered Shorthorn cattle at “I was always involved in Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
livestock judging and I knew I wanted to do it in college, so I started looking around and Fort Scott is where I ended up,” Kameran explained. She is enjoying working with and learning from FSCC livestock judging coach Blake Davis. She plans to obtain her associate’s degree from FSCC in 2023, then transfer to another university to complete her bachelor’s. While she’s undecided on what degree she will pursue, she feels confident her future will be embedded in agriculture. “I definitely want to get a degree in agriculture and maintain a career in it. It’s something I’ve always been interested and it’s definitely my passion,” Kameran said. She plans to expand the family legacy.“I’m really involved in the show industry right now, and I can only see it getting better by working to raise even better livestock, become more efficient, and to just keep growing.” What’s the future of agriculture look like? It’s hard to say exactly, but for Kameran Collier, it’s really just getting started.
7
