by Karlie Gerlach | IANR Communications
Lincoln, Neb. —It was the kindness of a family friend that helped Anna Kobza find her way into the agriculture industry by loaning two heifers for a 4-H project one summer. Ever since, Kobza has paved her own way in the industry to learn everything she could about beef production. Today, Kobza is pursuing an animal science doctoral degree while advocating for the beef industry via Instagram, where she has more than 90,000 followers. Her advocacy and leadership have secured her in a place in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Trailblazers program.
Kobza, originally from David City, Nebraska, is among 10 up-and-coming beef industry leaders selected to serve as spokespeople for the industry. The cohort will receive advanced training to become expert communicators in the beef industry while representing the industry on the state and local levels.
“To even be considered for trailblazers among 50 applicants is a huge honor,” Kobza said. “Being accepted, I feel like a valued part of this industry, and I also feel a huge responsibility to represent the Nebraska beef industry and its producers well.”
Every step in Kobza’s path through the industry played an important role in getting her to where she is today. Her unique experience in 4-H and time in FFA led her to explore different career paths in the industry. When thinking of her future career, the University of Nebraska- Lincoln was the next step Kobza needed.
While studying animal science and pursuing minors in the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship program and Krutsinger Beef Industry Scholars program, Kobza found hands-on experience while becoming more familiar with the industry and its people.
“The University of Nebraska- Lincoln does a very good job of providing really good practical experience that is important to know in a classroom setting, but that you can also extend to your career in the industry, academia, or wherever you end up going,” Kobza said.
The faculty at the university played an influential role as Kobza began looking at furthering her academic career. She chose West Texas A&M University to pursue her master’s degree before returning to UNL for her Ph.D. and to work with specific faculty members that only the university could offer.
While spending many hours in the lab and around different cattle for research, Kobza began showing different behind-the-scenes perspectives to her following on the social media platform, Instagram. Her original approach to reaching consumers soon shifted to reaching an audience with a background in agriculture to help them learn how to personally reach consumers themselves.
“For me, I really focus on cattle feeding and that is because I saw a lack of representation for the cattle feeder among the ag influencers that did exist,” Kobza said. “The farmer and the rancher were well represented, but no one was representing the cattle feeder. That is something that I have really become passionate about in the last couple of years is making sure they are represented and are able to have a voice among all the noise that is out there.”
By representing the beef industry as an NCBA Trailblazer, Kobza’s voice and influence in the industry only continue to grow stronger by advocating for the cattle feeder and finding innovative answers for producers through her research at the university.
“The Trailblazers program is an opportunity to really further develop communication skills that I think are so important if you want to represent an industry, and to build my network with producers from across the nation,” Kobza said.