“Daisy also took my international trade class where we look into policy and trading dynamics,” Davidson said. “Understanding all of that plays into being a good decision-maker in an agricultural setting and really makes Daisy a cutting-edge person in the industry.”
This summer, Creel interned with the National Watermelon Association to brush up on the government and regulatory side of agriculture.
“Produce growers tend to come last in terms of where the priority goes in agriculture,” Creel said. “Usually the chain of importance goes from the meat industry, any sort of the animal product other than meat, the grain industry and then produce. But watermelon is also considered a specialty crop, so it’s usually not high up within the produce category.”
Through her internship with the National Watermelon Association, Creel helped ensure that watermelon growers are represented by informing them about lobbyists or lawyers that the association hired to relay their needs to policymakers.
Interdisciplinary mindset in the classroom
Creel carries her interest in exploring all things agriculture as she builds her class schedule, allowing her to see the full picture of how everything happens from farm to table.
Take Dairy Production (ANFS 404) and Economics of Biotechnology and New Technologies (APEC 316), two of Creel’s favorite classes, as examples. Dairy Production teaches students the nutrition, genetics and diseases of cattle and how they relate to raising them for dairy production. Alternatively, Economics of Biotechnology and New Technologies is more focused on issues like consumer marketing, food labeling and risk assessment for new technologies.
Although vastly different, Creel feels that a variety of classroom experience gives her the ability to look at agricultural problems with a more informed perspective.
“I’ve really been able to take my major and customize it to fit my interests,” Creel said. “A lot of my classes are based on my minors, but I started out taking the basic agriculture classes and was able to expand into food and animal science, economics and agribusiness.”
Creel’s triple minors in food and agribusiness marketing and management, food science and animal science have allowed her to shape her own learning along with her various internships and experiences outside of the classroom.