Although he was originally an economics major, Steve was looking for a change of pace. He knew he wanted to major in agriculture and assessed his college options thoroughly.
“Vermont Tech stood out because it had the real world experience, dedication to production agriculture, and curriculum I would need to succeed in business.”
When Steve came to Vermont Tech he majored in Diversified Agriculture. He put in a lot of hard work and extra time into his education, and it was evident in his work and projects.
“Vermont Tech is the kind of place that gives back what you put into it. On top of the hands-on education I received from my professors and the Vermont Tech Dairy staff, I had access to many different off-campus learning opportunities on farms. When I wanted to learn about bovine husbandry and reproduction, I got up early in the mornings to apprentice with veterinarians—who were also my professors—on local farms to diagnose, palpate, operate, and treat common dairy cow ailments.”
He also added that “The overwhelming sense of community and support within the Diversified Agricultural program from the students, staff, and faculty helped me be a better student of Agriculture and achieve my goals.”
Before Steve graduated in spring of 2016, he accepted a job at one of the leading bovine genetics companies. This opportunity presented itself when Steve and his classmates took a trip to the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge. There he got invaluable face time with representatives of Alta Genetics and accepted a highly sought after internship. This internship lead to a full- time job offer.
“During my employment, I worked with some of the Northeast’s largest dairy farms to improve reproduction and genetics through herd management software analysis, reproduction protocols, and artificial insemination service.”
Steve is also a successful entrepreneur. In 2016 he started Grass Cattle Company LLC. He now has 30 feeder cows and is part of a larger cooperative of local farmers. He has since left his position at the breeding company to become the Executive Director for the cooperative. So far, it has been a rewarding experience.
“Now I get to work with many of the Northeast’s finest grass-fed beef farmers and ranchers to produce the finest grass-fed beef served with a Mission! I’m proud to be a part of the local food system that helps bridge the gap between the individual farmer and wholesale market access.”
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