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Small Town Boilermaker Making Purdue Her Home Away From Home

Name: Madisyn Kerr 

Hometown: Cedar Grove, Indiana  

Major & concentration: Agribusiness Management  

Minors or certificates: Crop Science and Farm Management  

Why did you come to Purdue: As a first-generation college student, finding a school that felt like home was crucial to me. Watching my brother graduate as a Boilermaker and seeing his success inspired me to follow him, making Purdue feel like my home away from home! 

Madisyn planting seed in a field

Favorite Purdue tradition: Den Pops 

Top three influences at Purdue:   

  1. The College of Agriculture
  2. LeeAnn Williams and the entire AGEC advising department 
  3. Women in Agriculture Learning Community

Top five memories of your time at Purdue: 

  1. Sledding on Slayter Hill 
  2. Meeting my best friends and going on late night adventures with them 
  3. The first basketball game I attended in Mackey 
  4. Going to Harry’s for my 21st  
  5. Flipping pancakes until 2:00 in the morning during Grand Prix week 

Places you have been as a Purdue student:   

  • Kansas City, Missouri with AFA 
  • Des Moines, Iowa internship with Corteva Agriscience  
  • Raleigh, North Carolina networking with BASF 

Madisyn Kerr with AFA

Favorite club/organization: Purdue Agricultural Council 

Favorite student-led event/initiative: Ag Week 

Favorite social activity: Moonlight Pancake Breakfast 

Favorite place to study: Hick’s Underground Library  

Favorite thing about CoA: The College of Agriculture is packed with tons of opportunities and an awesome staff rooting for your success! 

Favorite thing about your major: The versatility I experience as I navigate my path in the agriculture industry. 

Favorite class: AGRY 105 or AGEC 331 

Favorite professor: Dr. Lee Schweitzer, Dr. Ellison, and Dr. Corey Gerber   

Three biggest accomplishments:   

  1. Graduating in 3 ½ years 
  2. Serving as the 2024 Treasurer of Purdue Agricultural Council 
  3. Earning an internship with Corteva Agriscience 

Madisyn with Corteva intern group

Things on your resume not listed above:   

  • Spending two summers in the equipment sales world before deciding my passion was in the agronomic side of the industry 
  • Ag Econ Envoy 

Career goal: My long-term goal is to return home to Indiana. I hope to pursue a career and contribute to my family farm. 

Advice for underclassmen: Never doubt your worthiness for an opportunity. Apply for that big internship, sign up for that tough class, and join that organization. Failure, though inevitable, teaches you so much about yourself. That small leap can become your biggest accomplishment. 

Madisyn at the ice cream social

Biggest takeaway from Purdue: The person you sit next to in class could be the key to unlocking unexpected doors in your future. Make the most of your time at Purdue: embrace every opportunity, cherish the small moments, and challenge yourself.