Profiles of WYCEC Readers  

Katie Wells

                 2021 is my first year going into classrooms to present for WYCEC, so I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Katie Wells, I am a native Arizonan who was raised in the small town of Williams. Through family and friends, I have had the pleasure of being exposed to agriculture for my entire life. I have worked with my husband in the ranching industry for well over a decade and am now excited for the opportunity to share my experiences in order to help educate others. So many people today are far removed from the farming and ranching industries that previous generations would have been more   familiar with. As a result of that disconnect, many misconceptions have followed. I hope to make a difference by showcasing what I have seen first hand. The people who choose to work in agriculture are passionate; this is not simply just a job, it is a way of life. That being said, it is vanishing in many ways and agriculture is something that we as a  population cannot do without. I look forward to teaching children where their food comes from, how the land is taken care of in     order to be productive in the future and that people truly care about the health and wellbeing of the animals they raise. Food and fiber production as well as land preservation and water conservation are vital to our daily lives. Increasing awareness of how  agricultural products and practices are actually used is a way to combat misleading information and bring change to how these industries are sometimes portrayed. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to do my small part by bringing this program to our Yavapai County schools.