Sara Schafer

My name is Sara Schafer. I am currently a junior at Iowa State University double majoring in Agricultural Business and Finance. I am originally from DeKalb, Illinois where I grew up on a conventional corn and soybean family farm and found my passion for the agricultural industry. I grew up spending the spring in the planter with my father, taking scouting walks between the growing rows in the summer and bringing him food and company in the long fall days. I love the dedication and hard work that the men and women of the agriculture industry put forth in their work, and I hope to do the same after graduation. Since coming to Iowa State University in the Fall of 2014, I have involved myself in many campus organizations. Currently, I am a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council, ISUs Agricultural Business Club, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Ambassador Program, and the S.A.L.T. Ministry. I also a student volunteer for ISUs S.H.O.P. food-bank and also the Ronald McDonald House. Within these organizations, I have taken on many leadership roles in my past three years at ISU. I have been on numerous committees and executive teams and I have had the privilege to serve as a Finance Assistant and a Leadership Team Representative. Along with the numerous extra-curricular activities I am involved in, I have been able to make the ISUs Dean List every semester since my freshman year and continue to take every learning opportunity put in front of me. After graduation (May 2018), I am looking to pursue a career in agribusiness, more specifically in an agribusiness finance, lending, or credit department. My past work experiences as a Credit Analyst, Bank Teller and Teaching Assistant have directed me down this career path, as I have found that I enjoy the number crunching and analytical side of finance, while also collaborating with a group of my peers or conversing with customers.