Braeden Butler
Generations of FFA alumni attest to the impacts of the organization on their lives. Braeden Butler, a junior majoring in agricultural business, is one such student. Transferring from Cosumnes River College this semester and majoring in agricultural business, Butler is excited to start his new journey at Chico State. Butler’s passion for agriculture started in high school when he joined the FFA program.
“I remember when I had a presentation in junior high from the local FFA program. During the presentation, they discussed the endless opportunities within the program, and I knew this was something I wanted to do,” Butler said.
His Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) included raising and showing rabbits and turkeys at the Sacramento County Fair. Through this, Butler served as the herd manager because of this experience in his SAE projects.
“I would show the other exhibitors how to flip a bird, proper cleaning, and the procedure of showmanship. I would also be present at all meetings to set a good example for others,” he said.
Butler always had Chico State at the back of his mind. A few of his high school teachers attended the University and often reflected on their positive memories. Chico reminds him of his hometown of Elk Grove, and he enjoys the atmosphere of the quintessential college town.
Looking toward spring, he hopes to find an internship related to agricultural business to gain more experience for his future career. He is unsure what field he would like to focus on in the agricultural industry. At Cosumnes River College, Butler was involved in the Agriculture Ambassadors, where he was able to meet new people and participate in a variety of events and activities.
“I was able to mingle with other College of Agriculture students from Cosumnes River College as well as going on a field trip, which was to Chico State,” Butler said. “During this field trip, it really solidified that I wanted to attend Chico State, especially when touring the University Farm.”
This year, Butler is looking forward to working with Professor Christine Carroll and Professor Garrett Liles. Butler sees that both are helpful and understanding so he is looking forward to getting assistance if needed from each of them. He values his family’s support in pushing him to where he is today.
“I appreciate my parent’s encouragement for supporting my education. In addition, I look up to my uncle because of his lifestyle. He is not in the agriculture industry, but his hard work created a successful career for himself, and he has the opportunity to travel the world which is something that I have always wanted to do,” Butler said.
He offers advice to College of Agriculture students.
“I recommend having your major and interests picked out so you can understand what you want your future career path to be,” Butler said. “Always stay focused on your education, as well as personal life.”
Outside of the classroom, Butler enjoys hiking, fishing, golf, and art. In five years, he would like to be in a stable career in an agricultural-business-related job. He would also like to travel the world to experience new cultures and meet new people.
Butler looks forward to gaining new experiences this semester and learning valuable things that will help him in his future career.