From Cattle to Kids:
A Fifth-Generation Agriculturalist’s Journey with Green Jean
Hello, how are you?
Recently I had a phone call asking if I would be a part of the Green Jean Blogging team to help share agriculture with you all. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, my name is Erin Jones I am 28 years old and a fifth generation to my family’s farm. I serve as the UF/IFAS Livestock Extension Agent in Suwannee County. I work closely with farmers and ranchers to make the best out of their operations through continued education and research provided through workshops, farm visits, or a simple phone call. My absolute favorite group of individuals I get to work with is the youth livestock programs through Suwannee County 4-H. I serve as a 4-H leader for the Small Town Clovers 4-H Club and work to coach the Suwannee County 4-H Livestock Judging Team. Working with the youth and building the next generation of agriculturalists is truly one of the most rewarding parts of my job. I also serve as a member of Class Ten for the Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Team.
A little bit more about who I am, I was raised on a small family operation in Gilchrist County where my family raised cattle, hay, and peanuts. I was actively involved in both Gilchrist 4-H and the Trenton FFA Chapter. I exhibited livestock throughout the Southeast, I served on several officer teams, and was a part of various leadership organizations growing up. I thought I wanted to be a large animal veterinarian, but calculus changed my mind. I have a strong passion for the cattle industry and that guided me to pursue my Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at the University of Florida. Throughout my college experience I was a member of the UF Block and Bridle and the Gator Collegiate Cattlewomen. I also served on the 2018 Livestock and Meats Evaluation Team. During my college years I had two internships that helped to guide my career path. The first internship was with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. I worked during the summer of 2016 and spent time building curriculum for the 4-H program, I helped with cattle pasture rotations, weaning, shipping, and pregnancy checking, and also got to spend three weeks at their purebred operation at the time in Salacoa Valley. During the summer of 2017, I worked as a summer intern for Suwannee Valley Feeds working with dairy farmers to improve their silage crops being used for cattle feeds. I had a route from Okeechobee, Fl. to Waynesboro, Ga. pulling silage samples and visiting with dairymen throughout the summer. I graduated from UF in the spring of 2018 and began my career in ag.
After graduation, I went to work as the Manager of Operation for Etheridge Cattle Company, a family owned and operated preconditioning cattle feeding operation in Williston, Fl. The feeding yard had a capacity of 5,000 head and we worked to condition fresh weaned calves coming from Florida sale barns to get them started on feed prior to sending them to the midwest to be finished out and harvested. I worked with the cattle crew to receive, tag, and vaccinate cattle. I helped with shipping of cattle, and I worked to send out feed invoices to our customers twice per month. While at Etheridge Cattle we started the bull testing program for Southern Beef Performance, testing feed intake in comparison to rate of gain on seedstock bulls going into the Premium Power Bull Sale yearly. I loved my time working with the family operation, but a different door opened for my career, and it combined both of my passions cattle and kids so I joined the UF/IFAS Extension Team in July of 2022 where I now serve in the role of the Livestock Agent for Suwannee County.
While agriculture is a strong part of my life, my family plays a big role in my success too. I would not be where I am today without my parents’ love, support, knowledge, and guidance. They have been the foundation of my success. Along the way many leaders have played an active role in encouraging me to be the best version of myself from my 4-H agent to college professors and industry role models. This year is a big year for me as I begin a new journey in life starting my own family with my fiancé Kevin Dasher. Kevin also has strong agricultural roots and shares a passion for ag. I look forward to sharing my agricultural experiences with you all through my partnership with the Green Jean Foundation.
Erin Jones serves as a 4-H leader for the Small Town Clovers 4-H Club and works to coach the Suwannee County 4-H Livestock Judging Team. Erin says working with the youth and building the next generation of agriculturalists is truly one of the most rewarding parts of her job. She also serve as a member of Class Ten for the Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Team.