We are starting a new segment on our blog called CALS Stars. This section will highlight CALS alums and students who are embracing agriculture in a leadership role. Our very first CALS Star is Christine (Lepple) Lindner, who is a 2006 Alum who graduated in Agricultural Journalism. She is currently the 63rd Alice in Dairyland, Wisconsin’s Agricultural Ambassador. She is from Beaver Dam, WI and currently resides in Fall River, WI.
Q: What was college like for you?
A: Attending college at the University of Wisconsin – Madison was an eye opening experience that unlocked my potential in the classroom, in campus leadership organizations and made lifelong friends who are my mentors and cherished friends that I admire today. As a result of this world class education, my horizons were broadened and the experience has shaped me into the individual I am today, both personally and professionally.
Q: Did you participate in any student organizations?
A: Shaped by experiences in agriculture and UW-Madison in the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism. The courses provided me a well-rounded education in marketing, communications and public relations. My personal growth and career success is due in large to involvement in CALS student organizations, coupled with classroom knowledge has allowed me to developed leadership, communication and teamwork skills. While active in the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) serving as president and leading teammates from market research through product launch for a new equine calcium supplement in marketing team to serving as an ambassador for CALS, promoting the College to prospective students through visit days, tours and student panels, has developed me into the person I am today. In addition, the Association of Women in Agriculture, Collegiate FFA and Badger Dairy Club allowed me to meet lifelong friends. I had the fortune to be recognized by WALSAA with the Outstanding Senior Award, Outstanding Sophomore and scholarships to advance my education.
Q: What sorts of jobs/internships did you have during your college career and how did they help you succeed?
A: During college I broadened my knowledge in production agriculture and agri-marketing through internships at Agri-View as an editorial intern, Alto Dairy Cooperative as a communications intern, Filament Marketing as a marketing intern, Wisconsin State Fair working in the agriculture department and a sales intern with Fort Dodge Animal Health. These experiences allowed me to take the knowledge and skills gained in the classroom and try on roles within the agrimarketing field.
Q: How did you prepare for your first job?
A: Surrounding myself with the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences faculty, and mentors who taught the coursework along with involvement in campus organizations allowed me to build relationships and connect to a network of professionals within my career field was a tremendous advantage in preparing to apply for my first job. In addition, the variety of hands on agri-marketing internships allowed me to get a firsthand experience and inside look at jobs within agri-marketing.
Be open minded, apply for several jobs and understand even though you believe you have done everything possible to prepare yourself for your dream job right out of college, for most of us the first job is just the beginning stepping stone into your career path.
Q: What are your duties in your job now?
A: As the 63rd Alice in Dairyland, our state’s agriculture ambassador, I serve as a spokesperson for Wisconsin agriculture working to educate audiences of all ages, educating the media, youth and civic groups about the many facets of our food, fuel, and fiber industries. I share how Wisconsin products and agriculture benefits us economically, environmentally and enhances our quality of life. As a public relations professional for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, I travel 40,000 miles in one year to conduct media interviews, school visits, and event presentations, working on behalf of Wisconsin farmers to promote Wisconsin agriculture.
Q: What was the application process like to become the Alice in Dairyland?
A: I came to the position through an intense five month interview process which included an initial job interview to be chosen as a finalist. As a finalist we underwent a two day briefing session in March and three-day public interview with a selection panel in May. We were evaluated on a personal Interview, writing exercise, radio Interview, TV Interview, impromptu question and answer session, agribusiness talk and finale speech to be named 63rd Alice in Dairyland.
Q: What has being an Alice in Dairyland been like this past year?
A: Serving as Alice in Dairyland and working on behalf of Wisconsin farmers connecting residents to our state’s $59 billion agriculture industry has been an enriching experience while living a lifelong goal. Serving in the role of Wisconsin’s Agricultural Ambassador, I have helped unravel the gems of agriculture and share with consumers how our state’s food, fuel and fiber industry benefits every resident economically and environmentally while enhancing our quality of life.
Learning firsthand about our state’s diverse food, fuel and fiber industry allows Alice in Dairyland to educate and communicate with all Wisconsinites whether through face-to-face conversation or through the use of social media to bring agriculture into our daily lives and conversations. Agriculture is our foundation and essential to our lives from the food we eat and clothes we wear. It’s important for residents to recognize 1 in 10 people in Wisconsin work in agriculture from raising food animals to growing fruits and vegetables to agribusiness helping to drive our state’s economy.
Q: What do you feel was your favorite part about being the Alice in Dairyland?
A: It is all of the unique opportunities that I have had and the people I have met along the way that I enjoyed the most. It’s amazing being in the role of Alice in Dairyland how you can go up to anyone while at an event and people are eager to talk with you. It’s an open invitation to put yourself out there and connect people with agriculture by making the visit personal, engaging and enjoyable — all while opening their world to the diversity of food, fuel and fiber grown and produced on Wisconsin farms that enriches all of our lives.
The amazing people I have had the privileged to meet and work with and to experience amazing places in our state during my first month as Alice. From crisscrossing Wisconsin attending county’s breakfast on the farms to providing cyclists and spectators chocolate milk, the ultimate sports recover drink at the Tour of America’s Dairyland to picking strawberries savoring the sweet taste of local and fresh products. I have appreciated the opportunity to communicate these experiences and bring my exciting adventures in agriculture into the daily lives of Wisconsinites.
Q: Where do you feel Wisconsin Agriculture is heading in the future?
A: With the average American three generations removed from production agriculture, the need to connect and educate consumers about our food, fiber and natural resources industry is now. As agriculturists, using our shared values we must make essential connections with consumers face-to-face, through the media and using the latest communication tools to help consumers understand foods found on grocery store shelves first start on farms. We must tell our story teaching others about agriculture from the nurturing of crops and the careful raising of our food animals, agriculture is a business and needs to keep modernizing and being innovative to grow using technology as a benefit to consumers. This allows producers to be more efficient in producing a safe, high quality and affordable food supply to feed the world. Consumers are interested to know where their food comes from. This desire to learn gives agriculture producers the opportunity to engage and put a face to the source of food and industry as a whole.
Q: What does it feel like to say that you are a Badger Alum?
A: Pride. Knowing I have had the privileged to surround myself with mentors, faculty, professors and staff at a world class university and utilize my skills learned in College and help carry out the Wisconsin idea, extending the reach of the University to enriching the lives of Wisconsinite’s across the badger state. As a UW-Madison CALS graduate of agricultural journalism and lifetime member of WALSAA, I continue to surround myself with the people I admire from faculty, professors to life-long friends that continue to enrich my life and empower me to serve as a lifelong advocate for Wisconsin agriculture.
Q: What are you going to do when you are no longer the Alice in Dairyland?
A: After my year as 63rd Alice in Dairyland, I will be returning to my role as the marketing manager of the dairy and livestock division for ANIMART, an animal health supplier in my hometown of Beaver Dam.
On Wisconsin!
