Agriculture and photography may not seem like common combined passions, but they are for Olivia Camara ’24, who is a sustainable agriculture and food systems major with a focus on dairy management from Acushnet, Massachusetts.
“I have been taking photographs for about 8 years now and showing beef cattle for 6 years,” she says in reference to how her twin passions for both agriculture and photography have developed and grown.
Olivia, who is the president of the UNH Dairy Club, is planning to combine both in a career in the agriculture industry.
Olivia Camara: I chose UNH because it was one of the smaller schools on my list and wasn't in a big city. I wanted something that felt more like a local small-town college compared to a large institution. UNH also has some of the leading research in the dairy industry and that drew me in for what I want to do in the future.
Olivia: I started as an animal science major following the dairy management path but I quickly realized that science wasn't my forte and agriculture is extremely important to me so I switched to sustainable agriculture and food systems to gain a more applied aspect of courses. The major has allowed me to home in on what I want to learn and mixes what I'm passionate about and allows me to have a custom education while still being in college. I can pick the courses I want to take toward my dairy management emphasis while also having room to take extra classes to learn more about the agricultural industry.
Olivia: I'm most proud of the connections I've made while being here and being a part of the UNH Dairy Club. Participating in industry events and competitions has led me to meet some great people and gain connections with industry professionals that I wouldn't have gained without attending these events. It has also brought me to have a better connection with my professors. My lectures aren't extremely large so there is a great connection between me and my advisors and professors.
Olivia: After graduation, I plan on being a manager at a dairy farm or working in the industry in another capacity. I also plan on pursuing my passion for photography and hope to gain something from that as well. My big plan is to combine my passion for agriculture and photography and do something that fills both spaces for me.
Olivia: UNH has prepared me to reach these goals by providing classes that are directly applicable to my career choices. The courses are hands-on and extremely engaging and give lots of opportunities to develop life-long skills that can be used in the agricultural industry. By being involved in extracurriculars on campus it has also given me specific opportunities to use these skills and prepare me for my future in the industry.
Olivia: I love the tight-knit community that UNH provides. There are so many clubs that fit everyone's interests and are extremely inclusive to everyone on campus.
