What’s on the menu at Purdue

Madison Clary professional headshot

Name: Madison Clary

Hometown: Westfield, IN

Major: Agricultural Economics 

Minors: Spanish, Horticulture, Psychology and Food and Agribusiness Management

Why did you come to Purdue: It’s close to home and has so many different career opportunities. I knew I could switch around if I didn’t like something! I entered Purdue in Exploratory Studies.

Favorite Purdue tradition: The Fountain Run, TripleXXX and Purdue volleyball game day chats and cheers

Top three influences at Purdue:

  1. Andy Oppy
  2. Free food at club meetings
  3. Dining hall menus

Clary with friends in front of AFA banner Clary standing in a desert under a dark blue hood and scarf

Top five memories of your time at Purdue: 
  1. Late-night pizza, cookie and McDonald’s runs with friends
  2. CODOing to ag econ after my first AFA conference
  3. Any time I get to bother and sidetrack Scott Haan
  4. Cycling at nationals and helping Purdue place 2nd
  5. My first study abroad to Brazil with Liz Byers and Dr. Powers

Places you have been as a Purdue student: 

  • Brazil
  • Austria/Slovenia/Italy
  • Greece
  • Spain
  • Washington D.C. 

Favorite club/organization: Agriculture Future of America

Favorite student-led event: Purdue Ag Week

Favorite Purdue event: Burger Bash during Ag Week!

Favorite place to study: Outside on a picnic table on a beautiful and cloudy day so I can still see my laptop without squinting!

Favorite thing about CoA: The warm and welcoming people

Favorite class: 

  • In ag: Agronomy 255
  • Not ag: American Sign Language

Favorite professor: Dr. Akridge

Class you are excited to take your senior year: Advanced Agriculture Leadership

Clary standing on top of a building with Greek architecture in the background Clary holding Pete's hammer and standing next to Pete on a bicycle

Three biggest accomplishments at Purdue: 

  1. Making long-lasting, true-blue genuine friendships
  2. Semester abroad studying/taking classes in Spanish in Madrid
  3. Interning at Cargill in the beef supply chain the summer of senior year

Something about you that is not listed on your resume: I went to Morocco for 5 days, and I’ve ridden a camel and ATV through the Sahara Desert!

Future plans: God willing, I’d love to work in the beef supply chain at Cargill after taking a gap semester or year to volunteer with Agriculture Without Borders and work on farms around the world through programs like WWOOF and Workaway. I think it would be an incredible opportunity to learn how agriculture looks in different countries and gain firsthand experience with the production systems and export markets that shape global food systems!

Clary with study abroad group in Peru with Purdue banner

Advice for underclassmen: Some of the best memories you’ll make are the ones that were spontaneous. Even during the busiest chapters of your life, make sure to schedule time to be spontaneous because you genuinely have no idea what opportunities will come of it. :)

The biggest takeaway from Purdue: Success is a lot more meaningful when you have people to share it with. Build strong friendships, ask for help when you need it and be the kind of person who makes others feel valued.