Meet the Candidates - Natalie Roe: Rooted in Wisconsin: Growing Up in Agriculture

Growing up on my family’s multi-generational grain farm and elevator, I thought my riding in the combine with my grandpa, waving ‘hello’ to every farmer who passed by, and watching my parents’ early morning and late-night hours were normal in every household. As I got older, I realized how blessed I was to grow up on one of Wisconsin’s 95% family-owned farms.

Helping on the farm was something I enjoyed as a kid, but I was drawn to animals and dreamed of showing them at our local county fair. That dream became reality when an adorable Brown Swiss calf came into my life in 4th grade. From that moment on, my focus shifted from corn kernels to calves. What started as one show calf eventually grew into my brothers and I building our own small herd of Brown Swiss show heifers and exhibiting at many shows. I became deeply involved in the breed at the local, state, and national level, even serving as the 2023-2024 National Brown Swiss Youth Ambassador. In this role, I connected with Brown Swiss breeders, exhibitors, youth and consumers to help promote the unique qualities of the Brown Swiss breed.

My passion for dairy and agriculture was fueled through involvement in 4-H and FFA. In high school, I jumped at every chance to participate in different leadership conferences, career development events and public speaking competitions. These experiences sparked my interest in public speaking and communication. Once I merged my passions for agriculture and communications, I found my calling in life – agriculture advocacy and storytelling.

This calling led me to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I double majored in dairy science and life sciences communication with a certificate in digital studies. On campus, I was involved in the Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau and the dairy judging team. These clubs gave me the chance to explore different agriculture perspectives through on-farm experiences, consumer education events and networking with industry professionals at dairy judging competitions and conferences.

Agriculture has been a constant, a guiding principle in my values and a driving force behind my passions. I am incredibly grateful to have grown up with a family and community that plays a dedicated part in Wisconsin’s 116.3 billion dollar agriculture industry. As a Top Candidate for the 78th Alice in Dairyland, I am excited to continue sharing our state’s agriculture story.