Summer in Full Swing: A Life Update Since D.C.

Since my last post, life has been moving at what feels like warp speed. Between wrapping up my semester in Washington, D.C., traveling across multiple states, receiving some unexpected good news and trying to find a balance between work and rest, this summer has been full of memorable moments. So, let's catch up.

GJCA Cattleman of the Year Award

At the end of April, I attended the 2026 Georgia Cattlemen's Convention, where I officially wrapped up my term as Georgia Junior Cattlemen's Association Secretary. Serving in that role has been an incredible experience, and it was rewarding to look back on everything our officer team accomplished over the past year.

One of the highlights of the convention came during the Cattleman's Ball, where I was honored to receive the 2026 Georgia Junior Cattleman of the Year Award. While the buckle and plaque are certainly something I'll treasure, the best part of the weekend was reconnecting with friends, mentors and family members who have supported me throughout my journey in the cattle industry. Awards are special, but the relationships built along the way mean even more.

My dad and I at GCA convention.

Returning to Georgia

Just a few days later, another chapter came to a close. On May 1, I completed my internship with Congressman Austin Scott in Washington, D.C. The internship challenged me in ways I never expected and gave me a front-row seat to the legislative process. I learned so much about policy, constituent relations and the inner workings of government, all while gaining experiences that will benefit me for years to come.

The very next day, I packed up my tiny dorm room and started the journey back to Georgia. There wasn't much time to waste, as I was determined to make it back for the final Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow meeting at ABAC. Thankfully, I did. During that meeting, I was elected as the 2026-2027 ACT Chapter President.

Being elected president is both exciting and humbling. ACT has played a huge role in my college experience, helping me grow professionally and personally. I'm looking forward to working alongside an amazing officer team and continuing to build opportunities for our members during the upcoming year.

NuFarm Grassmanship Scholarship Recipient

One of the most unexpected moments of the summer happened while I was sitting on the beach with my family during vacation. I received a phone call informing me that I had been selected as a top-eight finalist for the $5,000 NuFarm Grassmanship Scholarship.

Needless to say, I was shocked.

The following week, I participated in an interview with the NuFarm team, hoping for the best but trying not to get my expectations too high. When I received the call that I had been selected as the scholarship recipient from a pool of more than 500 applicants, I was completely overwhelmed.

In fact, I cried at my desk at work.

Scholarships represent so much more than financial assistance. They are a vote of confidence from industry leaders who believe in your future, your goals and your potential. Receiving this scholarship was an incredible honor, and I am extremely grateful to NuFarm for investing in students pursuing careers in agriculture.

As a bonus, I have been invited to tour their facility in Mooresville, North Carolina, and receive the award in person. I'm looking forward to learning more about their work and meeting the team behind the scholarship program.

Time in the Sand

Before you start thinking this summer has been all work and no fun, don't worry; there has been plenty of time for adventure as well.

I joined my family in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, for our annual vacation. Something is refreshing about stepping away from emails, deadlines, and responsibilities for a few days and simply enjoying time together. Between relaxing on the beach and eating what felt like my body weight in shrimp, it was exactly the reset I needed.

A few weeks later, I made another trip to Port Aransas, Texas. While the views were beautiful and the memories were worth it, I also managed to earn the worst scalp sunburn of my life. Apparently, sunscreen on the hairline is not optional when spending entire days under the Texas sun. Lesson learned.

This is my niece, Tatum, but I claim her as my own. You see the resemblance, right?

Back to Reality

Now that the travel has slowed down and life has settled back into a routine, I'm back in Tifton and embracing a somewhat normal schedule again.

Most days consist of working in the seed lab, spending time with my pup, cooking healthy meals and reading as many fantasy novels as possible whenever I get a free moment. It's not glamorous, but there's something comforting about getting back to the rhythms of everyday life.

Honesty Time: I've also spent part of this summer battling burnout. After a semester in Washington, a packed spring schedule, officer responsibilities, internships and constant travel, I eventually hit a wall. That's one reason this blog post is arriving later than I originally planned.

Thankfully, things have started to level out. I've been focusing on slowing down when possible, getting back into routines that help me recharge and reminding myself that rest is just as important as productivity.

Looking Ahead

The next big event on the calendar is Ag Media Summit in St. Louis, and I couldn't be more excited. AMS is always one of my favorite events of the year because it brings together agricultural communicators from across the country. More importantly, I'll get to reunite with my fellow National ACT officers and many friends I haven't seen in months. With how quickly this summer has already flown by, I'm sure there will be plenty more adventures to share soon.

Until then, thanks for following along. Stay tuned for another update, and this time, I'll do my best not to wait quite so long between blog posts.