Once a Cowboy, Always a Cowboy

As I look back over my five years at the University of Wyoming my heart is torn between sadness and joy. I am excited to start a new chapter in my life but there is so much I am going to miss about being a student at UW. The memories I have made here are ones I will cherish forever.  From the very first day of college where I met some of my best friends and we went dancing at the cowboy for the first time to my last semester where I’ve also met some of my best friends and went to my last event as an Ag Ambassador.

No matter what you are studying or where you come from the biggest piece of advice that I can give to you is try to find your niche in college. I remember feeling so terrified and lost coming to the University of Wyoming. I’m from a small town and only had 28 kids in my graduating class where a majority of us had known each other since kindergarten. After getting here to where I am now, I look back and see that scared little 19-year-old and just want to tell her, “It’s all going to be alright. Yes, you’ll go through some really hard times, but you will also experience some of the best days of your life.”

There are so many clubs and organizations on campus. Try them out, think of the things you enjoy and try to find people who like those things too, and join something. I joined the Wyoming Collegiate Cattle Association and Sigma Alpha. In those I found people who love the Cowboy way of life just as much as I do. Though I love those two organizations the one organization that has made the biggest impact on my time at UW is Ag Ambassadors.

Ag Ambassadors is where I found my home in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming. I have loved getting to be a part of this organization. Talking to prospective students, being a voice for students, meeting alumni and donors, helping with the Brand of Excellence banquet, and educating the next generation through Ag expos are just some of the things we do.

If you haven’t met our fearless leaders, you are missing out and should definitely meet them right away. Anne Leonard and Sarah Kauer do so much for the Ag Ambassadors, and I could never thank them enough for how much they have helped me over the years.

Being an Ag Ambassador showed me so much about myself. I learned how much I love helping people find their place, teaching people about agriculture, and promoting our wonderful college. I discovered that I can make a difference and be an advocate for agriculture. Most of all I became a part of a family.

So to my Ag Ambassador family this isn’t goodbye its just see you later. Love you all!

-Kristy DeGering

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