Miranda Hornung

Miranda Hornung

Miranda Hornung

Hometown: Davey, NE
Major: Agriculture Education
Minor: Leadership and Entrepreneurship
Graduation Date: May 2022

What is your story?

Raised in rural Davey, NE by my parents, alongside my two older brothers, was an upbringing I will always treasure. Small towns where everyone knows everyone, front porch conversations are frequent, and safety is hardly a concern are the backbone of the Midwest and certainly of myself. From a young age, I was encouraged to explore and discover my passions, which I quickly found to be education, agriculture, and entrepreneurship. My involvement in organizations such as FFA only solidified these passions and pushed me forward to expand my leadership opportunities. Navigating entrepreneurship seemed daunting at first as a young female who came from a family of male entrepreneurs. With assistance from Engler, I realized my potential to generate success as a young female and am truly ecstatic to continue my journey through life and entrepreneurship.

What is your business?

I am working towards an idea that fuses entrepreneurship into the traditional education system, specifically through agriculture courses. The consumer/producer knowledge gap stems from a young age, so I firmly believe in the power of education to close this gap, as well as the role of entrepreneurship in the future of agriculture.

Who is your entrepreneurial inspiration OR biggest hero?

Lori Greiner. She prides herself on hard work, ethics, and giving back while also advocating for female entrepreneurs and highlighting the importance of passion in business.

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

Don't feel the need to jump into an idea if it doesn't feel right. The entrepreneurial journey begins with finding your purpose and pursuing your passions, so be sure to use that as a guiding compass in your business endeavors!

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

Definitely the Shark Tank open casting call! Seeing entrepreneurs from across the Midwest gather, support, and pitch their ideas was inspiring and encouraging as a young entrepreneur. Just being part of their entrepreneurial journeys was special to me!

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

I was anxious to hit the ground running with a big, fabulous business idea when I entered the Engler program but that was not my reality. After running a business (and failing miserably), I realized that I had not discovered the right idea for me. An idea that utilized my passion, my purpose, and my strengths is what I desired, but not finding that idea right away was extremely frustrating.