“With the world population expected to increase by 2 billion by 2050, food production will need to rise by 70 percent to feed everyone,” says Michael Retallick, professor and department chair of agricultural education and studies at Iowa State.

That’s why support like the Eliminating Barriers to Entry for Future Farmers Scholarship, established by an anonymous donor through the Forever True, For Iowa State campaign, plays a vital role by encouraging students interested in production agriculture.

And since Eliminating Barriers scholarship recipient Cassie Krebill graduated in 2018 with a degree in dairy science and an entrepreneurial studies minor, she’s been contributing to that need.

“Relating on-farm practices to the consumer is more crucial than ever and has become increasingly difficult,” Krebill says. “My education at Iowa State has allowed me to bring new technology and ideas back to our farm, and it has served as a superior network to communicate with other farmers and businesspeople.”

These experiences have fueled her passion to bring farm-fresh food and relatable agricultural education directly to the consumer. “My career goal is to return home to the family farm and create an integrated market that includes a farm-to-table concept,” she says. “Not only do I plan to grow awareness of agriculture, but also to create business opportunities in my small rural town in Iowa.”

Krebill feels her education from Iowa State will aid in that effort. In fact, she’s returned to Iowa State as a graduate student in the College of Veterinary Medicine, where her research revolves around dairy animal wellbeing and preventative animal medicine.

“My role as a graduate of Iowa State is to continue to progress the positive narrative of agriculture and create a sustainable, relatable and progressive row-crop and livestock operation to better serve the surrounding community and consumers,” she says. 

It’s a future made all the more possible because of the generosity of donors.

“I appreciate the financial support,” Krebill says. “But I’m even more excited that someone sees the potential in me and recognizes that I am pushing for my dreams.”