Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Cheyenne Tate

Cheyenne Tate is a senior in animal sciences with a concentration in biosciences. 

Tate is from Waveland, Indiana, where she grew up on a family farm that specialized in cow-calf operations.

Although Tate is studying animal sciences now, she originally came to Purdue University to pursue a degree in engineering. She changed her major to animal sciences during her sophomore year at Purdue. She chose to change her major because of her background in the cattle industry.

“I knew I wanted to make a difference in the agriculture industry and animal sciences at Purdue would give me the opportunity to do so,” Tate said.

During her time as an undergraduate student, Tate has been involved in the Purdue Collegiate Cattlemen’s Club, and she worked at the Animal Sciences Research and Education Center (ASREC) in the dairy unit.

According to Tate, although she took a “non-traditional” path at Purdue, her biggest accomplishment is that she can graduate on time as a first-generation college student.

Tate said the biggest strength of the Purdue Animal Sciences program is the sense of community it creates.

“Everyone knows everyone, and we are all looking out for each other,” Tate said. “I could not have made it these four years without my amazing advisor, James Krotz.”

After she graduates, Tate plans to become a beef cattle nutritionist. She said that the animal sciences department helped prepare her for this future career.

“Purdue has offered many classes that have strengthened this passion of mine,” Tate said. “The prestigious faculty have much knowledge of this industry, and I appreciate the high-quality instruction from them.”

Tate also shared advice for incoming students.

“I would tell incoming students to not be afraid to change your mind,” Tate said. “A lot will change in the next coming years, and you should embrace it as it comes.”

Featured Stories

Steve Dahnke, Jack Ward and Larry and Janet White
Four inducted into Indiana Livestock Breeders Association Hall of Fame

Steve Dahnke, Jack Ward and Larry and Janet White join the ILBA Hall of Fame.

Read More
yellow agave flower sprout from the giant flower stalk against a clear blue sky
The death bloom of a century plant

Agave americana, also known as the century plant, has evolved for a dry desert life. For 30...

Read More
Two Purdue students compete in the Jack and Jack double buck competition at Midwest Conclave 2026
FNR Students Experience Midwest Forestry Conclave

The Purdue student chapter of the Society of American Foresters participated in the 69th Midwest...

Read More
The Ecology of Natural Disturbances class stands in front of the Smoky Mountains.
Disturbance Ecology Comes to Life on Spring Break Trip

Every other year, the FNR 53600/53601 Ecology of Natural Disturbances class takes a spring break...

Read More
The state fair midway, featuring crowds of people and a ferris wheel.
Meet Purdue Animal Sciences' 2026 Indiana State Fair Animal Ambassadors

Meet the Purdue Animal Sciences students educating visitors at Animal Town.

Read More
4 students stand in front of marshall porterfield, all in different space and NASA shirts, one carrying a plastic jug with a white fungus growing over a mycoponics tube inside. Grow tents line the background on each side.
Mushrooms in space: Purdue researchers invent mycoponics to cultivate fungi for Earth, the moon and beyond

Porterfield founded MycoGravity — the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology...

Read More