Supporting From generation to generation
Name: Karie Taylor
Hometown: Rossville, IN
Major: Applied Agricultural Economics
Minor: Agricultural Systems Management and Farm Management
Why did you come to Purdue: I knew from a very young age that Purdue was the college I wanted to attend. I grew up spending time here, from taking walks on campus with my Grandpa, who was a professor in ag econ, to visiting my older siblings during their years attending Purdue. Growing up in a small town, I was surrounded by agriculture, which led to my desire to study agricultural economics. The College of Agriculture at Purdue is one of the best, so it was an easy decision to follow in my family’s footsteps!
Favorite Purdue tradition: Singing “Hail Purdue” at sporting events
Top three influences at Purdue:
- Purdue Institute for Family Business - Dr. Maria Marshall and Renee Wiatt
- Studying abroad for a semester in Madrid, Spain
- My classmates, professors and advisors in the College of Agriculture
- Studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, during my junior fall semester
- Watching Purdue make it to the National Championship in the 2023-2024 basketball season
- Tailgating with my friends and family for football games each year
- Studying abroad with the Ag Econ Department in Spain and Portugal in May 2024
- Taking advantage of nice days on campus by going on walks with friends to get Den Pops, playing spikeball on Memorial Mall or studying outside by the Union.
Places you have been as a Purdue student: I spent a semester in Madrid, Spain, on a study abroad program, and I also studied abroad with the Agricultural Economics Department in Porto, Portugal and the northern coast of Spain. Additionally, I traveled to several universities with the Purdue Women’s Club Volleyball team, including Michigan State University, the University of Illinois and several others. I have also attended conferences in Fort Wayne, IN and Chicago.
Favorite club/organization: Purdue Women’s Club Volleyball
Favorite student-led event/initiative: Purdue Ag Week
Favorite Purdue event: Basketball games
Favorite place on campus: Loeb Fountain
Favorite place to study: Union
Favorite thing about CoA: The College of Ag is made up of some of the most supportive and smart individuals at Purdue. The opportunities and support that the people in this department can create for you are unbeatable.
Favorite class: AGEC 425
Favorite professor: Dr. Ehlers and Dr. Kilders
Class you are excited to take your senior year: AGR 490 - Advanced Ag Leadership
Three biggest accomplishments at Purdue:
- Remaining on the Dean’s List every semester
- Being involved and having leadership positions in several organizations on campus, including Kappa Delta, Purdue Women’s Club Volleyball, Alpha Zeta, Grand Prix Foundation and more throughout my time here
- Participating in two different research projects that allowed me to develop closer relationships with faculty in the College of Agriculture and expand my knowledge on several topics.
Future plans: I am planning on starting law school next fall with hopes to become an agricultural estate planning attorney, so I can help farmers transition their operations from generation to generation.
Advice for underclassmen: Get involved early and focus on building connections with faculty, staff, and fellow students in the College of Ag. You are surrounded by people who want to help you succeed, so don’t take that for granted! Also, have fun and make the most of your time because these four years will fly by.
The biggest takeaway from Purdue: The biggest takeaway from my time at Purdue comes down to the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and saying “yes” to opportunities even if it might be scary. You never know how one person or one experience might affect the course of your life.