Raven Noel Herron

This image captures me at the University of Maryland Campus Farm during the most recent “Ag Day,” known by the campus as Maryland Day, showing my heifer, Fauna. I worked with Fauna for about 3 weeks beforehand as much as I could to get her ready for the livestock show. Fauna and I left the day as Grand Champion Showman because of all the hard work and teamwork!

Raven is an Animal Science, Pre-Professional student attending the University of Maryland and entering her junior year in the upcoming fall semester. After moving to Howard County right before high school, Raven joined 4-H and began involving herself in any project she could. By the end of her high school career, she was the President of her 4-H club and FFA chapter as well as an exhibitor in Horse and Pony, Beef, Swine, Goats, and many Indoor projects at her fair. Currently, Raven strives to represent the agricultural community through various clubs and organizations. Some of her current accomplishments are being President of the Maryland Junior Fair Board, President of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Student Council, and Maryland Angus Queen. 

Raven is looking forward to spending her time at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center (WMREC) and the Washington County Extension Office this summer with Dr. Amanda Grev and Mr. Jeff Semler. Dr. Amanda Grev is the state’s top Forage and Pasture Specialist. Growing up in Minnesota, Amanda has her undergraduate degree at North Dakota State University in Equine and Animal Science and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of Minnesota. Amanda’s schooling and current passion lie in the research between forage and pasture management and its impacts on animal growth and nutrition. Mr. Jeff Semler has been involved in Extension his whole life as a 4-H alum. Growing up in Washington County, he currently serves as his county’s agriculture extension chair with experience in extension work since 1988 throughout various counties around the state. Mr. Semler attended West Virginia University receiving a degree in Animal Science and an M.S. at the University of Connecticut in Physiology of Reproduction. 

Current projects she is looking forward to exploring under her mentors are annual/perennial pasture forage differences, the accuracy of photo ID applications on forages, and getting to help with the Washington County Fair. Through these projects, she will gain field research experience, a basis of forage nutrition, and public education skills. 

Raven is determined to pursue a career in veterinary medicine focusing on topics that will nationally impact the country. Her current career goal is to attend veterinary school and graduate. Following her education, she plans to spend a few years in large animal and equine general practice to understand local issues. After developing a deep understanding of her co-worker’s demands by doing them herself, she plans to seek a job in a larger organization like the USDA APHIS where she can make large-scale impacts on animal health. 

This image is a group photo during the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Agriculture Innovation and Discovery Night. From left to right is Mitchell Hopkins a Regional Field Manager for the Maryland Farm Bureau, Parker Welsh the Executive Director of Maryland Farm Bureau, Kendall Abruzzese a Regional Field Manager for the Maryland Farm Bureau, Grace Tisone a Plant Sciences graduate and past UME intern, Olivia Scuderi an Animal Sciences graduate going into Law School, Cheyenne Van Echo an Animal Sciences graduate going into Veterinary School, and me holding my service dog in training, Vista. Cheyenne and I were presenting on our experiences affiliated with the Maryland Farm Bureau and the impacts the organization has on farmers and agriculturalists.