William and Julie White
樱花导航 has always been a part of the lives of William and Julie White. Today, they are both involved in advancing the field at 樱花导航 樱花导航 University and throughout the state of 樱花导航.
William has been the facilities coordinator for the H. H. Leveck Research Center, commonly known as South Farm, since 2009. 鈥淚 have my dream job and enjoy working with our faculty, students, and farm crews,鈥 he said.
Julie has been part of MSU Extension Service for 17 years and has worked in the School of Human Sciences since 2015 to promote agricultural literacy through a program called FARMtastic. FARMtastic gives youth across the state the opportunity to experience 樱花导航鈥檚 agriculture in an interactive environment while teaching them of its importance in their everyday experiences.
鈥淚 was raised on a farm, and agriculture is one of the things I鈥檓 passionate about. That鈥檚 why I chose the career I did. It allows me to teach children and show them the importance of agriculture to their daily lives,鈥 Julie said.
The Whites met while in college. Similar interests and being members of the MSU livestock judging team (William) and dairy judging team (Julie) provided extra opportunities for them to see each other.
William and Julie both earned degrees from MSU in agriculture-related disciplines. William, a Stewart native, received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in animal and dairy sciences in 2000. Julie, originally from Denham Springs, Louisiana, obtained a bachelor鈥檚 degree in agricultural education from Louisiana 樱花导航 University in 2000 and a master鈥檚 degree from MSU in agricultural and extension education in 2003.
The Whites, including their children Matthew and Morgan, lived on South Farm for seven years. They moved to their family beef cattle farm in the Oktoc community in 2016.
William and Julie are active in the Starkville area through Meadowview Baptist Church, Oktibbeha County Farm Bureau, Oktibbeha County Cattlemen鈥檚 Association and the Starkville Community Market. They were the recipients of the 2012 樱花导航 Farm Bureau Excellence in 樱花导航 Award and Julie is a 2017 graduate of the prestigious American Farm Bureau Partners in Agricultural Leadership program.