Hannah McCabe

I never had to “officially” change majors, but when I started Freshman year at Butler Community College, I thought I would do Agricultural Communications at K-State.

I considered two things- my passions (cattle and people) and what classes I was enjoying the most Freshman year. For me, it just seemed like a logical decision to pursue an Animal Science degree.

• Collegiate Cattlewomen
• Block and Bridle
• Gamma Phi Beta sorority

My summer after senior year of high school was spent at an AM radio station, KKOW in Pittsburg, KS, where I read the market reports every day, current news stories and assisted with the annual farm show. Two summers were spent at Osborn + Barr in Kansas City as an Account Services intern on the Merck Animal Health account. I was able to work closely with the client and assist with projects for their marketing campaigns, meetings for their sales force, and events such as Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame and the World Dairy Expo.

I went to NCBA the year it was in Tampa, FL with Collegiate Cattlewomen. While there, I passed out my resume to anyone who would look my way it seemed! I knew I wanted to be an animal health pharmaceutical representative, so I really targeted those companies and spent the most time networking with those folks. I was sure to get a business card from anyone I talked to, applied online for the desired open position, and then sent a follow up email with my resume to the company representative I had met. However, networking with industry individuals started years before I was a senior, and that was how I ended up at both of my internships. Never underestimate the power of a good contact! Having that personal relationship or recommendation will take you further than just about anything else.

As a cattle Territory Manager, I am interacting with farmers and veterinarians every single day. Sometimes that means breakfast in a diner that doesn’t accept credit cards, conversing in the milking parlor, or climbing into a tractor while a farmer is packing silage. My job is to take the latest research and news to vets and farmers so that they have all the pieces of the puzzle to make the most beneficial decision for their herds. I also get to host educational meetings and events, which allows everyone to come together and share their ideas, successes and learning opportunities. It is a lot of traveling, but it’s also a great opportunity to experience places and things I probably wouldn’t otherwise.

Interacting with people every day. I make it my goal to bring a little light to everyone I meet, and leave them feeling happier and more optimistic than before. This job allows me to do that while still getting to be involved in the cattle industry. So many of my customers have become my friends, so this job feels like I’m just hanging out with people I enjoy and discussing a little science while I’m there.

The biggest challenge was defiantly moving to a brand new state (New York) and into a brand new industry (dairy).While my geographical location has become less of an issue, the fact that I have a beef background rather than dairy is something I will continue to face. It doesn’t make my job impossible, it just means I have to work harder than my competition, find other ways to connect with folks, and continually take advantage of learning opportunities.

Network and be ready to work hard! This job is amazing, but you have to work hard every single day in order to be successful. No one is making me go to work in the morning and checking my schedule to be sure I am doing my job- my boss lives 9 hours from me! A person in this field must be disciplined to show up every day and willing to put in the long hours and miles. Do some ride alongs with people in this career to be sure you know what you’re signing up for.