For Kat, farming is filled with favorite memories from childhood, rich traditions, and a rewarding and fulfilling job that constantly changes and keeps her challenged. Because she cannot wait to return to it, she is graduating early this spring from UW-Madison, earning a degree in Agriculture Business Management. Meet Kat
Eugster, a twice-recipient of the scholarships the WROF, Inc. provides!
It is no wonder that farming is such a large part of Kat's life. Kat and her brother, Jacob, grew up on their family
farm in Stoughton, Wisconsin. They both plan to continue a 150-year family tradition of farming that originates in Speicher, Switzerland. Kat and Jacob will be fourth-generation farmers on their Wisconsin farm and sixth-generation farmers in their family history. "I'm thrilled to have a career that keeps me close to the ones I love," says Kat. "I look forward to passing down the same traditions and experiences I had growing up on our farm, the same way my parents taught, and are still teaching
me."
Kat fondly remembers tagging along with her parents as they worked on the farm, from playing with the animals to picking fresh strawberries in the field. Kat says that growing up on a
farm has taught her a good work ethic at an early age that has helped her succeed both on and off the farm.
One of Kat's biggest challenges as a college student is her time away from the
farm. Says Kat: "While I've thoroughly enjoyed my classes and experiences at college, it's difficult to miss big harvest or planting days, along with daily tasks
such as morning chores and watering the greenhouse." Kat is proud to achieve her goal of graduating college in three years, so she can return to her family farm as soon as possible, with newly gained knowledge and lots of new ideas to try.
Because Kat is paying for her college education, she is grateful for the scholarships she received from the WROF, Inc. "The support of the WROF, Inc. has allowed me to take
courses that will greatly benefit my future career in farming, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be pursuing a college degree." Being able to live on campus has also been hugely beneficial, allowing Kat to take a full load of credits every semester. In addition, it allowed her to meet other students in the industry and take part in organizations that promote agriculture. Kat is currently the treasurer of the Association of Women n Agriculture and the secretary of the Collegiate Farm
Bureau.
Kat would like for people to understand that there is much heart in rural Wisconsin. "It's good people doing hard work to create products the entire population relies
on. We are all bonded through a shared love of the land, and take great pride in caring for it," says Kat. "I am proud to be joining this community, and I can't wait for this lifetime in the agricultural industry."