This afternoon I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Cal Poly College of Agriculture "Women in Agriculture and Natural Resources Careers" panel and luncheon. I was very pleased and excited to attend, because one of my dear friends, Celeste Settrini, spoke on the panel! I had the greatest fortune in meeting Celeste at the California CattleWomen's Mid-Year meeting, joined with the California Women for Agriculture, around March of 2010. I will forever be thankful for that moment, because I have discovered a life long friend, mentor, and fellow woman in agriculture that I will cherish for a lifetime. See our cute picture below! ;) I couldn't let her get away without one of our famous Malorie/Celeste photo opportunities. After all, today is "Farm girl Fashion Friday!"
The panel consisted of six women in agriculture and natural resource careers including Ms Tonya Antle, Vice President of Organic Sales--Retired, Earthbound Farm, Ms Peggy Biltz, MBA, RD, CEO, Dairy Council of California, Ms Mica Heilmann, CPSS, CPESC, Soil and Agriculture Scientist and Partner, NewFields Agricultural and Environmental Resources, Ms Dris O'Conner, Executive Director, Central Coast Vineyard Team, Ms Celeste Settrini, President, Calfornia Women for Agriculture, and Ms Sarah Spann, Senior Project Manager, Padre Associates, Inc.
There were many great topics brought up in the panel discussion, and I'd just like to share some things that I learned today with you! I know they will help me further in my college career and well into life, where ever it may lead me, and I hope they impact you too.
1. Be present, always. Take some time away from the electronics. It won't kill you to turn off your phone, step away from your laptop, turn off the radio, and stop tweeting for at least half of a day. It will prove to you that time to yourself is important and beneficial. Quite time is sometimes the best medicine to cure stress. Take time to read a book, enjoy a walk, or bake, yes this means chopping vegetables to let out your inner stress!
2. Love what you do. Can you imagine hating your job? If you do, then maybe it's time to reevaluate the situation. Take care in discovering your career path. In a job interview you aren't only selling yourself to the employer, but the employer should also be selling themselves to you. If you aren't treated how you would like to be treated in the interview, you can bet that you won't be treated how you want to be treated in the work place as their employee.
3. Keep relationships with your peers. Yes, you will need to be on the look out for future employers, but who's to say you should stuff your friends under the rug if the opportunity allows. Continue to grow relationships while in college...you never know who you might run into several years from now in your career journeys, and you might need a favor.
4. Balance your work life and spare time. Several times a year (or a week, for that matter) you may feel stressed out past the point of breaking. Well, if you did this to yourself you can certainly undo it. If you plan things right, you won't really have to balance consciously. Your life will already do that for you. If you follow step 2 (Love what you do) you can find a happy balance in life. Love what you do, and then when you get home from work, love what you do there too.
5. Have a mentor. Even if that certain someone you look up to is younger than you, or completely different than you, it is important to have a role model in life. That person can help guide you in times of stress and challenges, and support your strong moments. All in a moment's time you will always have someone you can trust!
Moral of the story: Women in agriculture ROCK!
Thank you so much for a wonderful time today, Celeste!
For the rest of you, I hope you can take away something from my list. It goes on and on, but that will be all for my blog today!
Until next time!
Sin-steer-ly,
Malorie
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