Meet AFIA's Taylor Lekin

Written by: Victoria Broehm   |   January 15, 2024

staff

I am delighted to share that the American Feed Industry Association has hired its first marketing and program development coordinator, Taylor Lekin, who will be responsible for marketing AFIA’s events, products and services, and supporting the communications efforts of AFIA’s 501(c)(3) public charity, the Institute for Feed Education and Research. A recent Iowa State University graduate, she hails from a farm family, and has experience writing professionally and analyzing agricultural policy issues. She exudes positive energy and a passion for helping the agriculture industry thrive, and I know she will bring creative new ideas to AFIA. Learn more about her below and meet her at the upcoming International Production & Processing Expo! 

Q: Tell me about your background.   

Lekin: I hail from a small, rural town in central Iowa, where my family runs Tama Livestock Auction. Growing up, my strong passion and appreciation for the agriculture industry grew as I worked alongside my family and raised cattle with my younger brother.  Also, I was very involved in youth agricultural organizations, which fueled my passion and led me to pursue a degree in agriculture and rural policy at Iowa State University.  

Q: What interests you most about working in the animal food industry?   

Lekin: Through my background and education, I gained a deeper understanding of the diversity and intricacies within agriculture. The feed industry holds a pivotal role in ensuring that our animals are well- fed, which in turn ensures we have safe and nutritious food on the table. As I look into my role, I am looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to the industry by supporting our member companies in the animal feed and pet food space.  

Q: You studied agriculture and rural policy studies at Iowa State. What originally drew you to that major? What was your favorite class and why?  

Lekin: When I enrolled at Iowa State and began exploring the different options for my major, the agriculture and rural policy program immediately captured my interest. The curriculum’s expansive coverage, spanning agricultural economics, rural sociology, political science, sustainability and global resources, aligned perfectly with my passion for diverse topics. When I first met with my academic advisor, Carmen Bain, Ph.D., I found myself inspired by the way she talked about her plans for the program, as well as the way she encouraged me in my academic goals and opportunities. By the time I graduated, Dr. Bain not only had become a mentor but also offered me my first college job. Under her guidance, I explored additional programs, and participated in a study abroad initiative, which she directed, and seized many other opportunities at Iowa State.  

One class that stood out was ’Rural Society in Transition.’ We explored the different social structures and relationships that impact rural communities and factors that contribute to how farmers make decisions. Honorable mentions go to the mythical ‘Wild West’ class and floral design class!  

Q: How did you end up doing a study abroad? Tell us about that experience.  

Lekin: In the spring and summer of my junior year, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Global Agriculture and Food Leadership to Rome program. Through this program, with a team of three other students, I worked in collaboration with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization to prepare a report analyzing the sustainability of the global avocado supply chain.  

During the spring semester, we spent time in the classroom learning about global agriculture and food issues, developing high-functioning teams and researching and drafting our report. In May and June, our team spent four immersive weeks in Rome, Italy, meeting with our mentors from the FAO and finalizing our report (and exploring, of course!). This study abroad was truly eye-opening for me as it deepened my understanding of global agriculture and the different systems that play a role in feeding the world. 

 My favorite part of the program was our weekend trip to Tuscany, Italy, where we got to explore the different types of agriculture in the region (i.e., dairy cows and goats, olive oil and wine)!  

Q: As you know, we love our fur babies around here! What kind of animals do you have? 

Lekin: Growing up, I had the privilege of raising and showing cattle and sheep, and witnessing the comings and goings of many beloved animals in my life. One cherished show calf was a beautiful blue roan heifer, named Blue Jenny, which I got to show as a bottle calf and a breeding heifer. After she retired from the show ring, she went on to be one of the first cows in the herd my brother and I managed. I even showed one of her daughters, Little Jenny, a few years later. 

My family also has a lovely dog named Josie at home. We had a few different dogs growing up, and at 12 years old, my parents decided our family was just too busy to have a dog at home. Two years later, my brother convinced my grandma to take him to the animal shelter, and they came home with Josie for a two-week “foster” period. As you can imagine, we became foster failures, and eight years later she is still will us!   

Q: You said you enjoy a good road trip; which road trip was your favorite and why? 

Lekin: If you know anything about the Iowa State Cyclones, it is that athletic success comes in waves and the fans love to travel. So, when in my sophomore year of college in 2020, Iowa State football was playing in the Big 12 Championship game for the first time, I had to go! We packed up the car and made the 12-hour drive from Ames, Iowa, to Arlington, Texas, to cheer on the Cyclones. I had never been to Texas before this trip and Dallas-Fort Worth was such a fun area to visit with my college friends and thousands of other Cyclones.  

Q: What else do you like to do for fun?  

Lekin: In general, I love spending quality time with my family and friends, cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones, listening to live music and just being outside. Now that I am in a new city, I can’t wait to start exploring, trying new foods and learning more about American history in our nation’s capital. I also love being crafty and my most recent hobby has been crocheting (beginner’s tip: don’t start with a blanket!).