The Georgia Collegiate Beef Ambassador (CBA) Program is an integral component in developing future leaders of the Georgia cattle industry.
Funded by the Georgia Beef Board, the CBA program provides an opportunity for collegiate men and women to strengthen their leadership and communication skills, establish career networks, and enhance their knowledge of the cattle industry. This experience will assist undergraduates in furthering their passion for beef advocacy by providing trainings, access to educational resources, and unique experiences to bridge the gap between producers and consumers, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the beef industry. Through this program students will be enabled to become an integral voice for the beef community.
The Georgia Collegiate Beef Ambassadors serve a one-year term that will begin September 1st and culminate August 31st of the following year. Throughout the year CBAs engage in a variety of activities to promote and support the Georgia beef industry:
Our ambassadors are passionate undergraduate students from colleges and universities across Georgia. They come from diverse backgrounds but share a common goal: to promote and advocate for the beef industry. Meet some of our dedicated ambassadors:
Claire Gabriel is a sophomore at the University of Georgia studying Animal Biosciences. Claire grew up on a beef cattle farm just outside of Athens, GA in Oglethorpe County. She is a member and intern at Lexington Baptist Church. In all her interests, no matter the subject, animals always find their way to the center of it. Animals have always been the center of her attention and she was always the go-to person on her family farm for raising bottle-calves. Her dedication to their care and the understanding that they were meant for food production ignited her passion to pursue a future in food-animal veterinary medicine.
Carlye Green is a freshman at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College pursuing an Animal Science degree with hopes of becoming a large animal veterinarian. Carlye showed livestock with Perry High School for 4 years. Carlye was raised around horses, but quickly found her love for the livestock industry with the help of the FFA. In her free time, Carlye loves to ride horses, hang out with friends, and attend college events.
Lydia Hill is an Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College freshman pursuing a Bachelor’s in Agricultural Communications. Coming from a commercial cow/calf operation in Marshville, North Carolina, she has always had a fondness for cattle. Lydia was extremely active in her FFA chapter, where she showed Simmental and Angus heifers and held multiple leadership positions. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends at her home in NC. After graduation, she intends to take her degree back home to inspire others and make a positive impact in agriculture across North Carolina through writing, speaking, and graphic design.
Haigen Walker is a junior at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College pursuing a degree in Agricultural Education. She lives on her family’s farm where they raise beef cattle, chickens, rabbits, and many other animals where Haigen keeps the records and assists with daily tasks. Haigen is the owner and operator of Southern Hayse Cattle Company, which is her small cattle business she started in 2021. In addition to college and the farm, Haigen works for the University of Georgia Tifton Campus in their Weed Science Lab. In her spare time, you can find her checking the cows, reading a book, or spending time with her family and friends. Haigen loves hunting, fishing, and doing just about anything outdoors.
For more information about the Georgia Collegiate Beef Ambassador Program, please contact Caitlin Jackson.