My name is Haley Copenhaver, and I’m a junior from Hinton, IA. I heard that Morningside has a really good Agricultural program, and I saw them represented at a couple of college fairs. I’m majoring in Agricultural and Food Studies, with minors in Animal Science, Ag Communication, and Ag Business. I grew up on a farm with row crops, hay, horses, goats, chickens, and ducks. Throughout high school, I was heavily involved with FFA and 4-H, served as the 2024-2025 Northwest Highway District Treasurer for FFA, and raised, trained, and showed horses. This fall, I will earn my American FFA Degree, which fewer than 2% of all FFA members receive nationally.

On campus, I keep busy with leadership roles. This year, I’m president of the Ag Honor Society (Delta Tau Alpha) and the Ag Judging Club, secretary of the General Ag Club, and vice president of the Dean’s List ceremony. I’m also involved with ODK, tutor for Ag classes, and serve as a plant science preceptor helping in class. Beyond agriculture, I play in several campus bands, including the Morningside Wind Ensemble, M Avenue Jazz, and the Pride of Morningside Marching Band. It’s fun to get involved and help lead it at the same time. It comes with a real sense of accomplishment, especially when you’ve put a lot of work into making something come together.

Managing all of this means I need to apply myself and manage my time well. I have to set aside time for homework, but I also need personal time to spend with family and friends. I always keep my calendar updated and write things down, so I know when to focus on school and when to take personal time.

Even though only about 2% of Americans are farmers, everything is connected to agriculture in ways you don’t always see. That’s why I want to help people learn about agriculture, both formally and informally, whether that’s out talking to people in person or making videos. I’m not sure of my exact path yet, but I know there’s a lot I can do with my degrees. I want to be involved in agricultural media or marketing through social media or sales. If I work in livestock, I could develop custom feed rations for herds or help owners track their cattle’s progress. I plan to stay in Northwest Iowa, and being involved in so many things has given me a much clearer idea of what I want to do while helping me build connections for internships and career advancement.

My advice for other students is to get involved to see what’s out there. If you don’t like something, you don’t have to keep doing it. But it’s good to discover what you might be interested in, build your leadership skills, and form connections.