Cara DeTar

Hometown: Coffeyville, Kansas

My earliest K-State memory is attending the 4-H Day with the Cats with my family. This event is for 4-H members and their families to travel from all across the state to spend a day watching the K-State Women's Wildcat basketball team. As a young kid who loved to make new friends, I saw this event as a major opportunity to meet some people outside of my ordinary life. With my 4-H club, I explored the K-State campus, met tons of other 4-H members and found a love for the K-State purple and white.

Why did you choose K-State?

I chose K-State not only because my family went to K-State, but because it has one of the top agricultural education programs in the country. When I was in high school, I knew that agriculture was my passion, and I had a deep love for education, and I wanted to pursue both of these things. So, with my family, I looked into K-State's agricultural education program. When we went to Manhattan to visit the campus, we were greeted with open arms by the College of Agriculture and especially the agricultural education faculty. At K-State, I have found a family within my major and made connections I will have for life.

How are you involved at K-State?

I am involved in several groups and organizations, including the Swingin' Spurs at K-State, Country Dance Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau, Ag Ed Club and the Teach Ag Students in Kansas, or TASK, Force.

What has been your favorite K-State experience?

My favorite K-State experience has been helping put on the Agricultural Education VIP Day, a recruitment event for the agricultural education department. Prospective students of all ages come to campus to spark more interest in the degree path. At this event, I was able to meet and connect with potential students from all over the country who share my love for agriculture and education. I have been able to share my experiences, help students transition from high school or a community college to K-State and help ease parents' minds about sending their "babies" to a big four-year university.

How does K-State care for Kansans in your hometown community?

The southeast Kansas area is a rural and agricultural community, making 4-H and FFA a huge part of the culture. If you aren't in 4-H or FFA, you know at least a handful of people who are. With the massive role that K-State plays in 4-H and FFA, K-State has left a lasting impression on the community and the younger generation. With the opportunities offered through K-State, youth from our community are given a chance to have experiences that may not be readily available to youth from different areas of the country. In addition, K-State supports our local community through the 4-H and FFA organizations by hosting several state events and contests where youth from across the state gather to compete. K-State also sends representatives to our area high schools to encourage students to explore all of the incredible opportunities that K-State has to offer.

Why do you want to bring K-State to your community?

I want to give back through programs, services and scholarships. With K-State being the Kansas land-grant university, it offers many different and unique programs and services to communities across the state. Community members can learn more about their environment and health through these programs and services and become more involved in their community.

Kansas State University had gone above and beyond when it came to helping me pay for my education. K-State's scholarship opportunities for incoming first-year students, transfer students, military members and individuals returning to school are absolutely unmatched by other universities. With these scholarship opportunities offered by K-State, our students from lower-income levels can pursue their dreams of going to college without having a fear of student debt for the rest of their lives.