What is your story?

I’m a small town girl originally from Swanton, Nebraska, a town so little that most people in Nebraska haven’t even heard of it! I grew up dancing, showing pigs, and participating in every sport my parents would let me! When I got to college to pursue my passion for agriculture, I realized that something was missing, that something was dance and fitness. I became a certified group fitness instructor and started teaching classes at UNL. The combination of teaching and being involved in Engler has taught how to fail with grace, ask for help, and pursue my purpose. I’m a child of God, a sister, a daughter, a student for life, a teacher, a leader, a dancer, a dreamer, a sunset chaser, and an entrepreneur. Top 5 Gallup Strengths: learner, includer, positivity, harmony, futuristic

What is your business?

AgriFit is about empowering you to be your best self, everyday. AgriFit improves health and wellness of individuals in rural communities by incorporating small town culture and values into fitness and recipes. Website: agrifityou.com YouTube: agrifityou Instagram: @agrifityou

Who is your entrepreneurial inspiration OR biggest hero?

My biggest inspiration is my sister. She has pushed me and encouraged me to do and be my best every day, whether that be physically, mentally or spiritually. For as long as I can remember, I’ve looked up to Emma and wanted to be just like her, from having matching outfits in elementary, to being in the same organizations in high school and college. Through that though, I struggled to find who I truly was because so often I felt like I needed to live up to the things she had done. She has always been there though to encourage me to bring my personality into everything I do. No longer do I strive to be like my sister, but she still inspires me by pushing me to be my best self every day.

What advice would you give to a student starting their entrepreneurial journey?

Embrace failure. All too often society tells us that failure is a bad thing. But in reality it’s a good thing, it’s just as important as success is. Failure can knock us down, but it can build us up too – it’s all in how you look at it. When you fail (which you will because it’s unavoidable) choose to fail fast and fail forward. Get back up, brush off the dirt, look at the situation differently and try again.

What has been your favorite "Engler Experience" to date?

All of the experiences! But if I really had to pick one, I would say serving on the Executive Leadership team. Not only did I meet some of my closest friends through the leadership team, but I also had the chance to serve and give back to an organization that has given so much to me!

What has been the biggest hurdle or struggle you've dealt with in your entrepreneurial journey?

The biggest hurdle I've had to deal with so far is accepting the failure of a business idea. Some friends and I spent two or so years working on a business idea related to bringing consumers and producers together and increasing awareness about food and how it's produced. In Engler we talk about failure being a good thing (which I fully believe it is) but at the time this business was my baby, something I just couldn't let go of. I spent the next year feeling lost, like a "fake" entrepreneur, and not knowing what to do. Looking back though, I'm thankful that it didn't work out, that time of feeling lost was so valuable in helping me discover my why.