Meet Grace Allee - Navigating K-State as a first-generation college student
Major: Agricultural and Natural Resources Communications
Expected graduation year: Spring 2027
Hometown: Nobelsville, Indiana
As an out-of-state student, what made you take the leap of faith to move to Manhattan?
I wanted to go somewhere outside of Indiana because I already knew my community; I was involved in 4-H and FFA, but I wanted to find an area that was outside of my circle. My FFA advisor encouraged me to major in agricultural communications, which narrowed my college options because of the niche major. So I decided to travel to Manhattan during spring break of my senior year of high school, and it immediately felt like the perfect home to me. I didn’t want to change anything about it. I joke that Kansas State University was the only university I applied to and actually visited because I loved it so much.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I developed a passion for understanding mental health in the agricultural industry. I found research on farmers’ mental health, which sparked my interest in focusing on an area within agriculture to help our industry. Initially, I intended to pursue an ag business with a minor or certificate in mental health. However, I discovered agricultural communications, which proved to be the ideal path. This major allows me to be a strong advocate for agriculture, giving me a voice that I wouldn’t have had with an ag business focus.
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation college student?
Being the first in my family to attend college and move out of state was a little intimidating. Although I rely on phone calls home and on my friends here, I’ve had to realize that as a first-generation student, I am navigating this journey on my own. My parents and grandparents always encouraged me to pursue something for myself, and I chose to get an education to build a career. Every decision I make is mine, and it’s wonderful that my family knows how hard I’m working through those calls back home. I know that my hard work here at K-State will benefit my future career and create an impact on my family. Despite the challenges I have faced, starting this legacy as a first-generation K-State student is deeply meaningful to me. I hope that one day, my children will be able to say they are second-generation K-State students because I began that heritage.
How did you find your community within K-State?
K-State feels like family and home to many students. I’ve been fortunate to build strong relationships within my major and the College of Agriculture. This supportive atmosphere allows me to easily connect with people, whether it’s stopping by the dean’s office for a casual chat, popping into any professor’s office to say ‘hi’ or grabbing coffee with friends at Radina’s. That simple connection is what I love about the College of Ag and K-State’s environment. You will find friends in your professors, advisor and the people sitting next to you in class. I am especially grateful for my strong friend group, as we encourage each other to be confident women making a positive impact in our industry.
I love that the major is such a tight-knit community. We can always rely on each other, whether it is asking for help on a homework assignment or needing someone to talk to. It is an encouraging environment, and we are all pushing each other to be better communicators, leaders and individuals.
Are you a part of any clubs or organizations on campus?
I am most involved in the College of Ag Ambassadors. I currently serve as social chair for the 2025–26 school year. It has been an awesome opportunity for me to grow personally and professionally. It has allowed me to travel around the state and outside of Kansas to recruit for the College of Agriculture and the university.
As ag ambassadors, we represent every major within the college. It is important to build connections and relationships with your colleagues within that organization. I have learned so much from my peers in other majors like milling science, animal science, entomology and agronomy. At first, I didn’t know K-State had an entomology department, and now I walk past the insect zoo and get to say ‘hi’ to my entomology friends. It gives you a wide variety of connections within the college.
I love to talk about K-State, especially as an out-of-state student. When I am giving a campus tour, I always reflect on my first and only visit. Seeing the ‘Welcome to Manhattan’ sign gave me the reassurance I needed to know this was the place. I like to encourage students who are coming from 10 or 20 hours away that K-State is a family university. You will find a community here.
What are your activities outside of your role as an ambassador?
I assisted in coordinating the social media for Christian Peña’s student body president campaign. At the start of the school year, when candidates for student body president and vice president began announcing their campaigns, Christian, a friend I knew through the Kansas FFA Foundation, asked my friend Reagan and me to manage the campaign’s social media account. It was a rewarding experience. The work was volunteer-based and supported the university that I love. It was also a chance to help a friend while doing what I enjoy. The entire process has been both a great experience and a valuable challenge, as we focused on making an impact to encourage our university community to vote for Christian.
What internship opportunities have you participated in?
In my freshman year of college, I needed to find a campus job. I had heard Beth Gaines needed an assistant for the Kansas FFA Foundation, so I applied and got the job. For two years, I did extensive outreach in my community and built connections across Kansas. My second experience was a summer communications internship with MKC, which introduced me to a new industry. Coming from a background primarily in livestock, I had no prior experience with cooperatives. However, my connection through K-State led to many hands-on learning opportunities at MKC. Living in the Wichita community during this time also allowed me to meet people outside the internship, leading to lasting friendships and new professional colleagues within Kansas. This initial experience ultimately led to my current internship with the Kansas Farm Bureau. In this role, I focus on writing, event planning and gaining a deeper understanding of the Kansas community and the significant impact they have on the state.
Talk about your secondary major and certificate.
Dr. Katie Starzec encouraged me to take a global food systems leadership class because I was running for a state FFA officer position and needed to familiarize myself with how global food systems operate. To be a role model and inspire younger students to get involved in the ag industry, I recognized the need to learn more about areas where I was not fully knowledgeable.
The global food systems leadership classes allowed me to explore a wide range of leadership skills and perspectives. Through FFA and 4-H, I gained a well-rounded background in food systems, but taking the classes and collaborating with students from diverse backgrounds exposed me to how national and international food systems compare to those in Kansas. This exposure has improved my ability to adapt my leadership approach to different situations and industries, such as the livestock or seed sectors, where distinct mindsets are required, particularly when working across different countries. Dr. Mary Kay Siefers’ guidance has been beneficial in my development as a leader.
For my certificate in agricultural and occupational safety and health, Dr. Mitch Ricketts spoke in one of my classes about the importance of understanding the safety precautions in the agricultural industry. In my summer internship with MKC, I worked closely with the safety director, and he taught me about the importance of wearing safety gear, the correct procedures for using machinery or equipment and following the OSHA guidelines. It really prepared me for Dr. Ricketts’ class.
What kind of hands-on learning have you experienced?
Hands-on learning is a core component of the K-State College of Agriculture experience. As an agricultural communications major, my very first class introduced me to essential design applications, camera gear and skills I’ve been applying throughout my four years. This exposure is incredibly beneficial, especially for students who may not have had previous access to this training. That freshman-year class covered applications like Adobe and Canva, as well as camera work and podcasting. The skills I learned there are directly relevant to what I’m doing now. K-State ensures that the foundational classes, whether taken in your freshman or junior year, set you up for success in your coursework and career.
One hands-on learning experience I am currently doing is working with Lisa Moser on the Kansas State Agriculturist magazine. We are learning about editing, layout, design and AP-style writing. Not only has it helped me improve my skill set, but also sparked the idea of creating my own magazine one day. Sharing stories is how communicators make an impact in our industry. It’s really neat how this small class produces such an incredible magazine, allowing us to share so many stories. This is impactful for the College of Agriculture because it provides a platform to showcase our alumni’s accomplishments and our current students’ activities across all majors.