Beef Magazine

Ready for a Fresh Start

Amanda Nolz April 30th, 2009

As you all know, I will be graduating this May. As this is the last week of April, I only have a few classes and a couple of final exams before I walk across the stage as a college graduate. Over the past year, I have done some serious soul searching trying to figure out which path I should choose in order to reach my future goals. With that being said, my priorities danced between my career, my passion for production agriculture and my love of family. I’m sure some of you are wondering what my plans are post-graduation, but you will have to tune in next week to get the scoop. Looking back over the past few months, I really wasn’t sure where I wanted to end up. I was a mess as I listed the pros and cons of every job opportunity and every career path I could potentially pursue. There is a quote that I hung above my desk to help me out during those times when I questioned myself and my abilities, and I think it might help you, too!

“God helps those that help themselves. Act as if everything depended on you, and pray as if everything depended on God.”



I know that agriculture has had its ups and downs in the last year, and I’m saddened by the growing number of farmers and ranchers that exit the business. It seems that at every turn, there is a new piece of legislation, a different media article or another consumer report that hinders our ability to do our jobs as food producers. While it’s hard to stay positive in tough times, I think it’s more important now than ever before to stay optimistic and keep our heads held high. Don’t give up and don’t give in. With time, things will start to look up again. In the meantime, pray to God for strength and look within for action. Don’t stand on the sidelines while the world changes around you; make the time to change it for yourself. I may be an optimistic college student with an idealistic outlook on life, but I think with faith, optimism and enthusiasm, anything is possible.

Stay tuned next week for a full disclosure of my plans after graduation. This was a huge decision for me, and I’m excited to share it with all of you! It’s definitely a risky move on my part, and I hope you will approve and send your words of support! I’m ready for my fresh start! I hope you all have a productive, positive remainder of the week and weekend! -Amanda

Quick BEEF Daily Fact: Two-thirds of family-owned agricultural businesses never make it past the second generation. Is that destiny or a choice? (BEEF Magazine, January 2009, You Replacing You By: Wes Ishmael)

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8 Comments to “Ready for a Fresh Start”

1. Tom Horn Says:
   

   April 30th, 2009 at 9:00 am

   Thank you Amanda for your thoughts and perspective. I wish you all the best in the future and from a selfish point of view, I hope you continue to be involved with media. I agree that it is too bad that we are losing our young folks in the ag industry. We beat the odds here and made it three generations, but sadly this gereration decided to move on and so now this operation belongs to someone else and I am lucky enough to stay and manage it for them. God bless and good luck!

2. Jess Peterson Says:
   

   April 30th, 2009 at 2:33 pm

   Amanda — congratulations on your upcoming graduation! I don’t know how you manage to keep up with everything— one thing is for sure, you have prepared yourself quite well for the job world!

   Agriculture has been well served by your commitment to attend college AND write about the current events affecting the agriculture industry. I agree with Tom — I hope you continue to be involved in media.

   Hat’s off to you for your hard work, and I am sure I speak for many when I say, “Best of luck on your next step!”

   Jess Peterson

3. Jodi Smith Says:
   

   April 30th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

   It seems so very long ago (2 years) that I was faced with the same decision. I wish you the best in your choices and look forward to hearing how things are going to work out for you.

   Will you continue to be involved with Beef Daily (or will I have to wait to find out!)?

4. Maxine Jones Says:
   

   April 30th, 2009 at 4:30 pm

   Hi Amanda, and congratulations on your graduation…..and your career choice…whatever it may be!

   Endings and beginnings in our education are so interwoven it sometimes is difficult to sort them out, it seems. Your official ‘education’ may be ending, yet very probably your actual ‘education’ is just beginning……may you enjoy all of it.

   We are having a similar experience….vicariously. Our eldest grand daughter graduates from highschool in a couple of weeks, and this fall will begin studying to be a veterinarian, her goal since she was in grade school. Lincoln is such a big place, we had hopes she would choose SDSU, but her NE scholarships helped her decision to stay nearer her home.

   Maxine Jones

5. Kayleigh Riley Says:
   

   April 30th, 2009 at 5:03 pm

   Congratulations, I just read you article in Progressive farmer and decided to register on your blog. I am so proud so see and hear about people my age trying to keep agriculture alive and especially the beef industry which I am so passionate about. I would love to help out in any way I can and be the voice of beef. Please e-mail me!

   Enjoy the last days of college

   Kayleigh Riley

6. Marcia Callaway Says:
   

   April 30th, 2009 at 6:08 pm

   Amanda, I will never forget the night your were chosen as the ANCW National Beef Ambassador. Your mom and I cried with JOY. You have truly turned out to be the BEEF Industry’s BIGGEST cheerleader. What a BEEF AMBASSADOR you have become!

   I have just read your article in The Progressive Farmer, May 2009 issue. You must stand for something and your stand is BEEF. I have made a copy of it and am sending it to a CBB member asking for his support to FULLY fund the NBAP for next year.

   We need your passion and support for this program to be able to continue to promote youth in our Beef Industry.

   God Bless you for all you do. I know you will make the right decision and follow your dreams on graduation day.

   I love and apprecite all you do. Marcia Callaway in GA

7. Betty Smokov Says:
   

   May 2nd, 2009 at 2:45 pm

   Congrats on your forthcoming event. Since my marriage in 53 I have been an active ranch-wife but didn’t spend much time talking about our livelihood(CATTLE). It is good to see the young people more involved and standing up for their beliefs. I hope you continue to work in mass media. We need people articulate enough to combat the misconceptions that seem to come from the urban areas. Good for you and all those who walked out on the Underwood Concert. We should do the same with all public personalities that avow the veggie life-style. Especially if they get public funding.

8. Amanda Nolz Says:
   

   May 3rd, 2009 at 6:26 pm

   Tom, Jess, Jodi, Maxine, Kayleigh, Marcia and Betty,

   I can’t thank all of you enough for your kind words of encouragement and support as I enter into my last week at South Dakota State University. I appreciate your stories and your messages, and I hope you will stop back next week for the “official announcement.” I’m excited to begin this new stage in my life, and I’m so honored to have great friends and colleagues in the beef industry such as yourselves. I’m a lucky gal in that effect, and I’m thankful so thankful for all of you. God Bless!

   Amanda Nolz

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