Maine Student Preps for Ag Career on Farm, in Classroom and as Leader in Holstein Association USA

Natalie Keene has already created a career-length résumé as a fourth-generation dairy farmer and leader in Holstein Association USA. Yet amazingly Natalie, at age 20, is still a college student at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va. Her leadership skills, particularly in the area of promoting the Registered Holstein® as a breed, have earned Natalie recognition in this issue’s young farmer profile.

Let’s start with the present and work backwards.

2005 convention

Right now Natalie is combining her dual-major college studies (applied agricultural economics/dairy science) with her responsibilities as junior chairperson for the 2005 Junior National Holstein Association Convention. (Natalie’s mother, Debbie, is cochair of the junior event, which will be held June 24 to 28 in Portland, Maine, in conjunction with the annual adult convention.)

Natalie is certainly well qualified for her leadership role at the convention as she serves as president of both the Maine and New England chapters of the Holstein Association. She’s also been recognized as a distinguished junior member for New England, an accolade that is considered a steppingstone toward a possible national award (to be presented at the convention in Portland).

Her accomplishments as a member and officer in the New England association are substantial. For one thing, she seems to have a rare skill that’s valued in any nonprofit association — that of fundraiser. “When I started four years ago,” Natalie says, “they had a negative treasury. In the past four years, things have gotten a lot better and we’ve raised more than $10,000.”

Creativity and energy

Natalie’s exceptional creativity and high energy will be put to good use between now and the time the convention closes on June 28. “I’ve been brainstorming with my mom trying to figure out what juniors want to do during the convention,” she said. “We’ve worked up special events both on and off site that include a welcome cruise on Casco Bay, a day trip to a lakeside resort and Dairy Bowl and Jeopardy-like competitions that allow juniors from all over the country to compete as teams and individuals.”

Natalie and her mom have also been addressing the more mundane issues of organizing a major event, such as creating menus, scheduling committee meetings and just making sure everything goes smoothly for the 400 to 500 juniors who are expected to attend.

Career plans

Regarding career plans, Natalie is leaving her options open, although she is quite certain she will be involved in agriculture. This comes as no surprise, since she spent her youth on the family farm in Canton, Conant Acres, where she was involved in all aspects of herd management, milk production and showing.

“I’m not sure I’ll go right back to the farm after graduation,” Natalie said. “I’ll probably get into the ag business aspect first.”

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