Two Majors, Three Years - Building my own plan one step at a time!
Name: Kylie Bedel
Hometown: Evansville, IN
Major & concentration: Agribusiness Management & Animal Science Agribusiness (dual major) – graduated in 3 years!!
Why did you come to Purdue: Purdue had always seemed like a second home to me. Being involved in Indiana 4-H, I attended several events at Purdue, and the campus was always welcoming and fun. Also, being the daughter of two Purdue College of Ag graduates, it was almost destined that I would attend Purdue and become a second-generation Boilermaker.
Favorite Purdue tradition: The entire student section dancing (Lance Dance) during 3rd quarter of Football games and the end of halftime in basketball games.
Top three influences at Purdue:
- In the first year of AGEC 296, a guest speaker related his time at Purdue in a simple quote: “Purdue is a giant sandbox; play in it, build some castles, and see what you like.” This quote helped me understand that I can try anything I want while at Purdue and should enjoy the challenge.
- Going to AFA for the first time and seeing the giant group of students all excited about agriculture.
- My family—With both of my parents being agricultural graduates, I knew a little bit about the school, and because of this, I tried all the things that they never did.
Not too nice, but an honest one: Having someone tell me I did not do enough in an interview, and I then did enough stuff from being invisible to being a leading student in two departments. (Sometimes spite works as motivation.)
Top five memories of your time at Purdue:
- On my 20th birthday, on the ride back from Kansas City, MO, and the AFA Leaders Conference, I was sung Happy Birthday to.
- Standing on stage accepting the award for Outstanding Sophomore in Animal Science at the College of Ag award banquet.
- Being at Ag Week and Spring Fest with my wooden animal model displays that I made because of Issues 360.
- Attending Big Man on Campus the first year, not knowing what to expect with my friend Natalie, and laughing so hard that it became an official annual tradition for us.
- Traveling abroad and bonding over experiences with new friends. The Germany trip was great, and I made great friends, who I think will be impactful on my life going forward.
Places you have been as a Purdue student:
- Agriculture in Ireland – Spring Break 2023
- Adventure in the Alps – Germany, Austria, & Switzerland – Maymester 2024
- AFA Leaders Conference – Kansas City, MO
- Indiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ag Professional Conference – Indianapolis, IN
- Beck’s Hybrids – Practical Farm Research Internship – Henderson, KY
- Union Pacific Railroad – Sales & Marketing Internship – Omaha, NE
Favorite club/organization: Collegiate 4-H
Favorite student-led event/initiative: Ag Week / Diamonds & Denim Ag Ball
Favorite Purdue event: Honestly, I enjoy so many events that I do not think I can pick one.
Favorite social activity: Moonlight Pancake Breakfast
Favorite place to study: WALC library, 6th Floor Krannert, or Krannert Main Floor
Favorite place on campus: Anywhere on Ag Campus. I love everything from the flowers in the Hort garden to the classrooms in ABE to the labs in Creighton and everything in between.
Favorite thing about CoA: The College of Ag is a family; everyone is willing to help and becomes connected through events and classes.
Favorite thing about your major: I get to learn skills that are applicable to any area of the ag industry, and I find that really rewarding. I have learned that I can learn more about one specific area of ag in the job, but having the skills needed to do that job is sometimes harder to teach.
Favorite class: ANSC 255, AGEC 330 – good class for anyone in business
Favorite professor: Dr. Valerie Kilders
Coolest project: Issues 360 Project; I am so proud of how everything turned out.
Three biggest accomplishments:
- Animal Science Outstanding Sophomore
- Top 5 AGEC Sophomore
- Issues 360 Wooden Animals
Things on your resume not listed above:
- Alpha Zeta Agriculture Scholars Honors Fraternity (February 2024-Current)
- Issues 360 Participant – Project focused on animal by-products, taught in middle and high school class (Jan 2024-April 2024)
- Diamonds & Denim Ag Ball and Philanthropy Event: Planning Committee Chair (December 2023- April 2024)
- World Food Forum: Indiana 4-H Representative (October 2023)
- Indiana 4-H Volunteer Specialist Search Committee: Colligate and Youth Representative (May 2023-Sept 2023)
- Alpha Lambda Delta Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society (March 2023-Current)
- Collegiate 4-H-Purdue University (August 2022-Current)
- 2024-2025: President
- 2023-2024: Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair, Spring Fest Bake Sale Coordinator, Ag Week Display Maker
- 2022-2023: Outstanding New Member; Ag Week Planning Committee-Animal By-Products Presentation
- Agribusiness Club-Purdue University (August 2022-Current)
- 2024-2025: Ag Council Representative
- Sheep & Goat Club-Purdue University (August 2022-Current)
- Jan 2024-May 2025: President, Southern Indiana Industry Tour Administrator, Meeting Organizer
- Indiana 4-H State Ambassador (June 2021-December 2022)
- Indiana Farm Bureau: Ag in the Classroom Certified Volunteer 2024
- Townsend Communications Contest-Outstanding Communicator Award
- 2023 – Female Farmer’s Impact on Agriculture
- 2024 – Railroads & Agriculture
- Beef Quality Assurance Certification: Feedyard Concentration 2023
Accepted employment: Planning on attending graduate school next instead of entering the workforce. Potential schools: Purdue University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University – AGEC Masters focused on Livestock Production Economics.
Career Goal: I want to work for a company, government agency, or university that focuses on helping farmers be more profitable and sustainable. Currently, there is no specific plan in place.
Advice for underclassmen: Try anything that interests you because time flies by while you are at Purdue.
Biggest takeaway from Purdue: If you are willing to learn, someone will be willing to teach you, and you need to constantly be open to their advice.