Alumni Spotlight

Name: Nicole Erceg

Current Title: Global Brand Manager for Livestock Genetics

Organization: Zoetis

Major: B.S. Agricultural Communications and Journalism '15

K-State College of Ag is proud to recognize alumni from all departments who continue to pursue their passion in their respective fields. It is through experience that we continue to grow as individuals and stewards of the industry. Through those experiences, we hope to be a continued resource for the next generation of K-State students to lean on for advice and continue to build our network!

Why did you choose K-State?

I applied to K-State kind of on a whim. I grew up in Oregon and knew I wanted to go into agricultural communications because I wanted to tell the stories of agriculture. My dream was to attend Purdue, and I had only applied to K-State as a backup.

I ended up getting an FFA state office, and in Oregon, you have to take a year off from college to serve. I reached out to Purdue and asked if they could hold my admission, and they said no. I sent an email to K-State and explained my situation. Admissions said they would absolutely hold everything. What sealed the deal was getting a handwritten note from a past Kansas FFA state officer who was a current student in the College of Agriculture. I had never been to the state of Kansas, but I knew it was where I was going.

K-State is probably one of the best decisions of my academic career and life. I’m grateful for the experience I had there, and I love any time that I can get back to Manhappiness.

How did student organizations impact your K-State experience?

I was very involved on campus. I was in Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow, Sigma Alpha, Student Foundation and Ag Ambassadors. These were the places where I found my people. You have so much in common with the other people you meet, both in that phase of life and what you’re passionate about, so many are still dear friends or colleagues of mine today.

I also met people through travel I was afforded while at K-State. I got to attend an Agriculture Future of America conference, where I met so many other students from across the nation who were leaders in agriculture. I actually ended up working for that organization in my professional career several years later.

What study abroad trips did you take as a student?

I did two study abroad experiences while at K-State. The first was to Ireland with Dr. Jason Ellis. It was eye-opening; you see U.S. agriculture from such a different perspective once you see what other countries are doing. I also did a beef study tour in Brazil with Dr. Don Boggs. We got to see beef production from beginning to end, from genetics to a packing plant. Not only were both of these experiences really great for exposing me to different cultures, but what I didn’t realize was that those experiences would be applicable to the work I get today leading livestock marketing globally for a suite of livestock genetic products at an animal health company.

What helped you through the transition from college to career?

The relationships that I built with professors and taking the time to have conversations with them outside of the classroom are what helped the transition. I spent time asking questions, getting to know them and asking for help on things. When I had some college-to-career questions, I had people to go to for advice and answers.

If you’re not picking some professors to convert into life mentors, I think you’re doing college a little wrong, because that’s what’s going to help in the transition from college to career. Having people that you’ve built a relationship with really makes a difference.

What does a week in your life look like?

I lead livestock marketing for our Precision Animal Health business at Zoetis, in both beef and dairy domestically and globally. I also run a marketing consulting business, Brightly Said. At Zoetis, products are focused on helping producers make better decisions using data that results in clear insights for confident animal care.

Why do you work in the livestock and beef industry?

I love getting up every day and thinking about cows, but more than anything I believe in serving an industry I believe does great things for the world. I interned at Certified Angus Beef when I was at K-State, and I just fell in love with the beef industry. I enjoy everything about it. I love the science behind different management practices and how we can make the beef industry better, but most of all it’s the people. We’ve solved a lot of the “low-hanging fruit” problems in agriculture, and now we’re trying to figure out how to solve some of these really complex problems. Getting to be a part of innovation that is going to help us produce better animal proteins is a blessing.

What’s one of your favorite memories from your professional career?

I was working in beef sustainability at Certified Angus Beef, and we were trying to figure out how to tell a positive story of what beef producers were doing that could connect with consumers. It was a really hard thing to do.

One evening I was out scouting birds with my husband, and we had permission to hunt on all sorts of farms and ranches. I was thinking about it, and realized this is a benefit — because these farmers and ranchers are here, I have a place to hunt.. I went home and on the coffee table was a Ducks Unlimited magazine where I saw a story about how important cattle grazing is to duck habitat. I saw an opportunity.

We reached out to Ducks Unlimited and started a partnership. Ducks and cows both need grass and water. I knew if Certified Angus Beef and Ducks Unlimited put our resources together, we could tell a story of the good work happening on farms and ranches that contributes to healthy wildlife habitats and a profitable, sustainable beef supply. I now serve on the National Ducks Unlimited Conservation Planning Committee and Agriculture Strategy Committee. Seeing the connection between the work I do and the hobbies I enjoy has been a serendipitous overlap.