Reviewed by: Callie Morrison
This AU grad student will change your view now on agriculture in Alabama
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Her whole life, Alyssa’s known she loved animals, but she never pictured she’d be so passionate about reframing the way others think about agriculture.
Read on to learn about her unique path to Auburn University and the surprising results of her survey on agriculture students.
What are agriculture students really like?
Meet Alyssa
One thing you should know about Alyssa is that she has two best friends—Rain, a paint horse she rescued, and Peanut, a quarter horse a relative gifted her.
When not outside with her horses, Alyssa enjoys reading and crocheting. But most of the time, she prefers to be in nature, exploring, hiking and working with large animals.
Because of her love for animals, Alyssa set her eyes on Auburn Agriculture.
But after graduating high school, she needed a bit more time before making a trip to The Plains. So, she decided to stay closer to home in Guntersville and started at Snead State Community College, gaining valuable leadership skills that set her up for success at Auburn.
Alyssa’s path to Agriculture at Auburn
Alyssa knew she wanted to work with animals, but Auburn opened her eyes to so much more.
“I kind of ended up in the College of Ag by accident. In high school, they always told me, ‘If you’d like animals, you should be a veterinarian.’ So, that was the only path I knew, but I never expected to be immersed in all aspects of agriculture.”
Alyssa Barrentine
After declaring the Animal Sciences major at Auburn, Alyssa was surprised to find out how agriculture-heavy the classes were. However, it didn’t take long before she fell in love with the field.
After graduating with her undergraduate degree in 2023, Alyssa is now pursuing her master’s in Agriscience Education.
“My master’s degree is a bit of a turnaround from my undergraduate studies. But my professors had such a significant impact on me, and they inspired me to alter my career path. My ultimate career goal is to teach Animal Sciences at a community college or a zoo.”
Alyssa Barrentine
Looking for a lucrative career field? Check out Auburn’s College of Agriculture.
Alyssa’s survey by the numbers
While at Auburn, Alyssa noticed that many of her College of Agriculture friends were from big cities like New York and San Francisco.
“When I was thinking about my friends’ upbringings, I realized that many agriculture students didn’t come from rural backgrounds. It got me interested in seeing what the numbers looked like across the board.”
Alyssa Barrentine
Alyssa sent out a survey to all Auburn Agriculture students and received some surprising responses. Check out the numbers:
- 46% of students said they did not have an agricultural background.
- Most said they decided to pursue agriculture because of their desire to do hands-on work and interest in animals, science and the outdoors.
- For those with agricultural backgrounds, the largest industries were livestock operations and FFA organizations at high schools.
Learning that nearly half of all Auburn Agriculture students did not have a rural background was a game changer for Alyssa.
“When I go to high school events for recruiting, I love to share these numbers with prospective students and encourage them that they don’t have to come from agriculture to major in it. I think it brings a sense of belonging and assurance to them.”
Alyssa Barrentine
Distinct agriculture paths at Auburn
When visiting high schools, Alyssa loves to open the students’ minds to all the different paths you can take with agriculture.
“Most people picture cows and farming when it comes to agriculture, so I love to help them think outside of the box. During my high school visits, I’ll say things like:
Do you guys love football? Then you should check out Auburn’s Turfgrass option.
Does anyone want to discover the cure for cancer? Then look into the Applied Biotechnology major.
Do you love weddings and all the beautiful florals and landscapes? Then you should check out Horticulture.”
Alyssa Barrentine
Aside from having incredible career opportunities, Alyssa is also grateful for the life lessons and skills the College of Agriculture has given her.
“I will carry the lessons I’ve learned at Auburn with me for the rest of my life. I know how to grow my own food, train animals and raise cattle. As a College of Agriculture student, you’re going to have career options all over the state, and you’ll also have skills for the rest of your life.”
Alyssa Barrentine
If you want to master the job market, apply for Auburn’s College of Agriculture today.
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