Allie Rieth, Agriculture Affairs Manager of the American Dairy Association Indiana, Inc., received her degree from the Purdue Animal Sciences Department in 2012.
Rieth grew up in a “mixed-agriculture” environment, where she developed a passion for animal agriculture. This unique background paved the way for her career, ultimately guiding her to her role with the American Dairy Association Indiana.
“I grew up in this sweet spot that I think positioned me really well to be a connector,” Rieth said.
Rieth chose Purdue with dreams of attending vet school but was equally drawn to her passions for music and choir.
“Purdue was the obvious choice because it allowed me to pursue my academic goals while continuing my love for music,” Rieth said.
However, Rieth discovered she wanted to change her concentration within animal sciences.
“I stayed pre-vet for as long as I did because I was just stubborn, but Purdue’s Animal Sciences Department does a phenomenal job of widening your horizons and showing you the other opportunities around,” Rieth said.
Realizing that veterinary school wasn’t her calling, Rieth switched her concentration to biosciences.
While at Purdue, Rieth immersed herself in a variety of clubs, organizations and activities. She was a member of Purdue Musical Organizations, served as an Animal Sciences Ambassador and was actively involved in Sigma Alpha and Alpha Zeta. Additionally, she participated in research projects through the Dean’s Scholars Program, further enriching her academic experience.
Rieth emphasized the impact her extracurricular activities had on her career.
“Being in academic classes gave me really great hard skills, but I would say most of the soft skills that I apply in my job on a daily basis were all developed through those extracurricular activities,” Rieth said.
One of the most impactful moments of Rieth’s undergraduate journey was her study abroad trip to Costa Rica.
“It sounds so cliché, but it was life-changing,” Rieth said. “I mean, it’s the first time that you get outside of your own culture, or you’re not traveling with family–it’s with new people, and it was just such an awesome experience.”
The program, focused on sustainable agriculture, exposed her to indigenous farming practices and sustainability in action.
Rieth also participated in the Midwest Poultry Consortium’s summer program, which became an unexpected yet valuable learning experience. Despite having no prior experience with poultry, she embraced the opportunity and earned nine academic credits through the University of Wisconsin. During the program, she interned at Miller Poultry and explored every facet of the poultry industry. Although she didn’t pursue a career in poultry, Rieth found that the knowledge she gained continues to benefit her, particularly in understanding the interconnectedness of agriculture in Indiana.
Rieth’s undergraduate journey also included overcoming challenges. She faced her first major setback when she was not accepted as an Animal Sciences Ambassador during her freshman year. However, with encouragement from Dr. Mark Russell and her advisor, Barry Delks, she persevered, reapplied and eventually became an ambassador. The experience taught her resilience and the value of maintaining strong connections.
“Every job I’ve had in the past 15 years has been because of a connection through Purdue,” Rieth said, emphasizing the close-knit, supportive community within Purdue’s Animal Sciences Department.
After graduating from Purdue with a degree in animal sciences, Rieth initially moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked in agricultural policy and advocacy. After some time in the nation’s capital, she returned to Indiana to continue her work in policy with the Indiana Farm Bureau.
During her early career, Rieth realized that communication was at the heart of her work. Wanting to strengthen her communication skills, Rieth pursued a Master’s in Strategic Communication from Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts. The program, designed for working professionals, allowed her to continue her career while advancing her education, and she graduated with her master’s degree in 2017.
After her job with Indiana Farm Bureau, Rieth joined the American Dairy Association Indiana as the Agriculture Affairs Manager. In this role, she bridges the gap between Indiana’s dairy farmers and consumers, focusing on both internal communications with farmers and public education about sustainable dairy practices.
Photos from her career
According to Rieth, the most rewarding part of her career is seeing other people accomplish their goals.
“I kind of measure my success by other people's success, and that's what's really gratifying to me,” Rieth said.
Rieth credits Purdue University with preparing her for her career by offering countless opportunities and creating a supportive environment that encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone.
“Purdue lays out opportunities like a buffet for you to choose from,” Rieth said. “There’s almost an overwhelming amount of opportunities, but it prepared me by showing me how to be flexible and that it’s okay to try new things.”
Rieth also credits the Purdue Animal Sciences Department for helping her perform daily tasks at her job. Although writing wasn’t heavily emphasized in animal sciences, Rieth found that lab reports and student research projects helped her develop essential writing skills that she now uses daily. Beyond writing, her education in animal sciences provided her with the technical knowledge needed to communicate effectively with farmers and veterinarians.
“If I didn’t have that education—those hard skills in nutrition and physiology—I wouldn’t be able to keep up with a lot of the conversations I have now,” Rieth said.
Throughout her career, Rieth has been recognized for several awards. She was named Advisor of the Year for Sigma Alpha by the national organization. Additionally, she was elected to the Purdue Ag Alumni Board, and she was a finalist for the Excellence in Agriculture Award from Indiana Farm Bureau. She said she views these honors not only as personal achievements but also as opportunities to reflect on her journey and set new goals for the future.
In addition to being an advisor of Alpha Sigma, Rieth enjoys spending time with her two dogs, reading and attending concerts. She is also an advisor of the dairy club and spends time volunteering. She also has a passion for travel, a love sparked by her study abroad experience in Costa Rica. Since then, she and her husband have made it a goal to visit as many national parks as possible, recently fulfilling a dream by traveling to New Zealand.
Rieth encourages students to seize every opportunity and not be afraid to try new things.
“You won’t know what you actually want to do until you try a bunch of different things,” she advised.
She also stresses the importance of building and maintaining strong connections.
“Purdue’s name is so prestigious that it’s an instant connection for people,” Rieth said, emphasizing the value of leveraging those relationships.
The Purdue Animal Sciences Department is celebrating 125 years! As a part of the celebration, Rieth was asked to upload a video congratulating the department.
