“Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost
This series highlights young professionals and their stories, because no matter our path we all have a little to share and a lot to learn. Read and learn from past feature posts HERE.
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First off, welcome back to this series! It has been long overdue! If you missed my post about bringing the series back, you can read that here.
I am so excited to welcome the series back with one of my favorites! I can’t exactly remember when I first met Logan, but it was sometime my sophomore year of college, when he was an incoming freshman. He was in the same department as me (ag communications), eventually became a fellow ambassador for the College of Ag and worked for a while with me as a student at the IGP Institute on campus. I struggled a bit with how I was going to introduce Logan because he is such an all-around great guy. I’m not sure I know anyone that works harder than Logan, or that is as committed to the things that he is passionate about. But what will always stand out to me is how great of friend he is to others and how much he invests in those around him. I’m so grateful that I can always rely on him for a serious chat and an honest reply in return, but also for the perfect sarcastic reply when we are talking about basically anything else. He also loves K-State sports, good Mexican food and doesn’t believe in the Oxford comma… so really, there shouldn’t be any question why I’m excited to share his story.
He just finished up a year-long fellowship here in DC and it was so much fun having him around! But I believe Logan is one of those people that was meant to teach and share the love the learning and agriculture with others, so I am so excited to see him to continue working towards his goals as a Ph.D. student.
-Amanda
Name: Logan Britton
Age: 25
Hometown: Bartlett, Kansas
College: Kansas State University
Degree(s): B.S. in Agriculture, Agricultural Communications and Journalism and Agricultural Economics; M.S., Agricultural Economics
Current Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma
Current Job: Ph.D. student and graduate research and teaching associate, Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Economics
Background Story:
I hail from a small town of 80 people in the southeast corner of Kansas, which owes its existence to an agricultural cooperative. It wasn’t until I took agricultural education classes and engaged in FFA programs during high school that I realized the importance and reach of agriculture. Throughout my childhood, I aspired to be a math teacher and doctor, but FFA allowed me to explore career possibilities within the agriculture industry.
One of our high school’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors is a family friend and recommend I enroll in an agriculture course during my freshman year. He exclaimed it would help me immensely – how right he was. My mom called my guidance counselor to take me out of my agriculture class once she got my schedule in the mail. In her mind, I had no future in the agriculture industry. She later recanted after observing how much I grew from the experience. I was blessed with four FFA advisors during my time at Labette County High School. Each of these men taught me various aspects of agriculture and how to be a leader. Through their encouragement and coaching, I transformed from a soft spoken and timid freshman to a strong, confident person ready for the challenges of college.
During my time at K-State, I worked in the College of Agriculture and one of its departments. Seeing the other side of higher education through academic programs, I soon discovered a passion for academia. As a college sophomore, I decided I would become a professor.
Fast forward six years later, I’m currently a graduate research and teaching associate and Ph.D. student in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State
College:
How did you choose your college and your major?
Through FFA, I participated in the agricultural communications career development event as a sophomore in which I completed the design practicum. I enjoyed learning the material, and it was there my love for agricultural communications began. While practicing for the CDE, I turned to one of my advisors and asked if I could do this for a living. He introduced me to material about Kansas State University’s College of Agriculture and the agricultural communications and journalism major. During high school, I gained experience in this field by running the FFA chapter’s website and designing printed materials as part of my supervised agricultural experience program.
I’ve always had a fascination with numbers, so while in FFA, I competed in the farm business management CDE. To enhance my education at K-State as well as learn more about agricultural markets, I decided to declare a dual major in agricultural economics.
What were you involved with outside of class? Organizations? Internships?
I was engaged at all levels while at K-State – I actively participated in College of Agriculture Ambassadors, College of Agriculture Student Council, Alpha Gamma Rho and Student Governing Association. I also participated in Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, Student National Agri-Marketing Association, Alpha Zeta Honor Society in addition to Agriculture Future of America.
As an undergraduate student at K-State, I held part-time jobs with the IGP Institute (where I first met Amanda!), the College of Agriculture Academic Programs and the Department of Communications and Agricultural Education. In my tenure, I completed internships with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Junior Livestock Show and the National FFA Organization.
What were your biggest challenges or obstacles in college? Anything you would change?
One of my challenges was saying no. During the first couple years, I was definitely a “yes man.” I wanted to make the most of my college experience by learning and doing anything I had interests in. Eventually, I got to the point where I was stretched a little too thin. I wasn’t getting enough sleep and wasn’t always in the best of moods. Once I started lightening my plate, my attitude changed.
One struggle I had to conquer in college was depression. I think this topic is taboo, especially in our culture and among guys. As mentioned earlier, I let stress overwhelm me. It got to the point where I’d get anxiety attacks, wanted to sleep constantly and couldn’t think straight. If I were to go back, I would have sought help sooner or found a healthful avenue to release my stress. I let my pride get in the way because I didn’t want my family, friends or people I admire see me struggle. Yet, I learned a great deal about myself through the experience.
What one piece of advice would you give a student during their senior year?
In college, we spend a substantial time learning course materials and objectives, but some of the best teachers are the people around you. Spend time getting to know more about them and how they developed their skillsets. Be in the moment, especially around your friends, mentors and professors. Time in college will fly by. As humans, we tend to remember negative experiences more than positive ones. Take pictures to capture these memories or write in a journal about the positive times you have.
Post Grad:
Tell us about your career so far?
After I finished my bachelor’s degree in May 2015, I stuck around for another year in Manhattan to finish my master’s degree through the concurrent B.S./M.S. program in agricultural economics.
Once I finished my master’s degree, I received a yearlong graduate fellowship with the U.S. Grains Council which was partially fund by the Kansas Corn Commission. While with USGC in Washington, D.C., I analyzed U.S. coarse grain trade and the benefits of U.S. free trade agreements as well as developed a long-term demand model to determine future growth of U.S. feed grains. I utilized both of my disciplines – communications and economics – every single day either writing an economic article for the weekly newsletter, editing content on the website or calculating feed grains in terms of value-added equivalents.
Currently, I’m at Oklahoma State where I hope to conduct research in the areas of consumer and food economics as well price analysis and forecasting.
How have your experiences and involvement in college set you up for success in your career and life post grad?
Being involved in several things across K-State and in the agriculture industry, I learned a significant amount about the expectations of others and how to work more efficiently. For example, if my boss wanted me to complete a task by the end of the week, I would attempt to get a first draft done a few days before so that I could receive feedback and make enhancements before the final deadline. Being in two somewhat different disciplines in college helped with approaching a problem from different perspectives, so I’m able to think from an economic lens and then from a communications’ one.
On the flip side, what are the biggest challenges or differences you’ve experienced post grad that you didn’t expect or didn’t feel prepared for?
I’m a Type-A personality right down to the letter. At K-State, I feel as if we were prepared to take on several responsibilities through coursework and extracurricular activities. I have always worked at a fast pace, so I hit a brick wall in the real world. I realized other people may not work on the same rate. This has helped prepare me for an academic setting, where decisions about programs and journal articles may take a rather long time.
What apps, technology and resources do you use regularly to stay organized and do your job?
Google Calendar is a blessing for my Type-A personality. I’m able access it on my phone or through a browser as well as color-coordinate different events and create to-do lists. Google Calendar also has a feature called goals, in which it will continually analyze your schedule and find the best fit for the activity you want to complete, such as working out or reading.
At this stage, what are a few of your strengths and weaknesses?
When I set forth goals, I’m adamant to accomplish them with all my effort. So, my drive and work ethic are important assets. Through my experiences and academic disciplines, I have developed well-rounded skills and can use both sides of my brain. My top theme in StrenghtsFinder is harmony, which means I enjoy bringing people together and steering people clear of conflict. I also am observant of others, so I attempt to understand them and learn about their preferences. On the other hand, I am quite the introvert. This may shock some of my friends, but it takes a great deal of my energy to talk with others. So, I usually don’t make the best first impression nor would I ever cut it in a sales role. It takes me a handful of interactions to warm up and truly trust others.
How do you stay motivated when work gets really busy or difficult?
My faith is an important piece of who I am. When I get down or need to re-focus, I think of the saints and other holy people who got through difficult times by God’s will and grace. I also think of people who have great expectations for me, either now, such as my family or role models, or those in the future, such as my wife and kids.
Work-life balance? How do you stay afloat and refreshed?
As a graduate student, this is a must. I try to either incorporate workouts or times to read into my schedule or participate in social events through the department or the Newman Center at OSU.
What in your #PostGradLife are you most proud of so far?
It’s difficult to pin down to one thing. I have accomplished many feats in my life with some daunting constraints and obstacles. My education has been important to me as a first-generation college student. Thus far, I have financed my degrees on my own with relatively low debt.
What does life look like right now? Hobbies and interests? What outside of work are you passionate about?
I’m currently single and have no prospects in sight (school has been my main squeeze for a long time), so my hobbies and interests are mainly those any mid-20-year-old male would have. I’ve been a skinny kid most of my life with some athletic ability. Recently, I’ve been working out regularly and eating a more balance diet to gain muscle. I’m by no means an Olympic weightlifter or fitness model, but I feel like I’m making progress toward my fitness goals.
I used to loathe reading thanks to Accelerated Reading in grade schools. Yet, with more free time and being more interested in learning, I’ve started to read again. Nothing too serious, but I mainly stick to books under the genres of theology, education and leadership.
I love sports, especially watching K-State play (Go ‘Cats), and spending time with friends and family.
What path are you looking to take next? Any long-term goals?
Hopefully I survive one more stint of school and obtain my Ph.D. in the next three to four years. The next segment in my journey through life will be trying to be hired as a faculty member at a land-grant university. Ideally, I would like to return to K-State; however, I understand that going elsewhere will only diversify my experience and make me a better teacher and researcher.
Just for Fun:
What is essential to your morning routine to start the day off right?
Either by eating a bowl of cereal or drinking a glass of orange juice.
Do you have a must-have vice like caffeine or item you can’t live without in your workspace?
I need white noise to work. If I’m at home, I’ll watch TV or binge watch a Netflix series (Friends or How I Met Your Mother). If I’m in an office setting and it gets too quiet, I’ll put my headphones on and listen to my Spotify playlists.
If you were to have another career, all limitations aside, what would it be?
If I could have muster enough courage and gained a stone-cold stomach, I would have been a medical doctor. I’ve always wanted to help people, so I’d either be in neurology, oncology or diagnostic medicine.
Moment of truth, what do you really miss about college?
I miss the proximity of friends. I know several colleges throw the word family around to describe the atmosphere. K-State is unique in which that mentality is engrained into students, especially in the College of Agriculture. It’s amazing to see what my friends are doing in this world and where they are currently. This also reinforces how well K-State programs train our students for the workforce. … Also, I really miss Call Hall ice cream though.
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Logan, thanks for helping kick off relaunching this series. We miss you here in DC but are excited for your new adventure at Oklahoma State!
The Good Stuff 