Michelle Bufkin Horton
Membership & Communications Director for the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association
Hometown: Originally Autaugaville, Alabama now Conway, Arkansas
Briefly describe your role:
My role is two part – one recruiting and retaining members for the ACA. I create a membership strategy plan that can recruit both new producer members and associate members. I also interact with our current members and make sure they are tied into the ACA. The other part of my role is the communications side – I manage all our social media accounts, weekly email newsletter, and create content for the monthly magazine. This gives me the opportunity to meet individually with some of our members and share their story with the rest of the ACA.
Q: Is what you’re doing now what you always pictured you would do?
A: Yes and no. Growing up I thought I was going to be a veterinarian. I actually thought that up until my sophomore year in college. While in college I fell in love with agriculture, especially the beef cattle industry. After changing majors, I knew I wanted to collaborate with cattle producers and tell their stories at a cattlemen’s association.
Q: What do you see as the greatest challenges for women in your chosen industry? What are the greatest opportunities?
A: I would love to say there are no challenges, but that would not be entirely true. I think the greatest challenges and the greatest opportunities for women in the cattle industry are tied together. It can be expected that women must “prove they belong” in the industry and at the table. Which is definitely a challenge, but nine times out of ten I have been given the opportunity to prove that on a level playing field. Meaning yes, I may have to “prove I belong” but the people I interact with give me that opportunity whole heartedly. Some of my strongest mentors have been people that convinced themselves and others to let me show my knowledge and skillset.
Q: Who has inspired you in your life/career?
A: My parents for sure. My dad trusted me wholeheartedly when I said I wanted to get into the cattle business. He drove hours to go pick up our first heifers. That unconditional support meant the world. My mom stepped up and took over the operation after my father passed away and I left home to start my career. Even though I grew up in the country she was a city girl through and through so there was a learning curve. She tackled it head on and has since grown the operation to include selling freezer beef to consumers. She also did not hold it against me when I moved eight hours away and left her solely responsible for the farm I had wanted.
Along with them Dr. Lisa Kriese-Anderson was a huge inspiration in my career. She was an extension professional at Auburn who focused on cattle genetics and reproduction. She taught me that no is a complete sentence. That I had the ability and knowledge to succeed anywhere in this industry.
Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring professional?
A: My typical advice is to network because agriculture is a small world. But recently I have learned to say yes to things before you think you are ready. Combining the two can lead to an outstanding career. I am a freelance writer for multiple national publications and an ag marketing agency – those opportunities came to me from networking and being willing to say yes even if the opportunity scared me a little. You are never completely prepared. Take it one day at a time and learn as you grow!
Q: What’s been your secret to success?
A: Being willing to work hard and own my mistakes. When I screw up, which happens it is inevitable. I own it. But when I do something amazing, which also happens, I own that too. So many times, women downplay their success and their strengths and up play their weaknesses. I say own them both.
