Kylie Daily loved agriculture long before she knew exactly where it could take her.
She did not grow up on a farm. She was from Davenport, about 25 minutes from the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges Muscatine campus. And for a while, she did not think college would be part of her plan.
Then she saw a future in the field she had always cared about.
“I’ve been in love with agriculture ever since I was a kid,” Daily said. “I really didn’t think I was going to go to college, but then I decided to because agriculture is really big to me.”
Daily recently graduated from EICC with an associate’s degree in Farm Management. Her next step is the workforce, where she said the degree gives her more options
and access to higher-paying jobs.
At first, Daily considered another college. She thought a larger agriculture program with more animals might be the better fit. But EICC offered a different kind of hands-on experience.
Daily completed four internships while at EICC, including work with a custom farming operation, a dairy farm, and an agricultural Christian camp in Montana. At the camp, she helped teach children about agriculture, welding, and industrial work.
The Montana internship also connected to something she wants to do in the future. “My goal is to build an agricultural Christian camp. For now, I don’t know where God is going to take me. Right now, I’m just praying and hoping,” Daily said.
Livestock judging gave her a chance to travel, compete, and connect with classmates. She also participated in PAS, which she described as similar to FFA for college students, and joined the Iowa Corn Association’s collegiate team, where students advocate for corn growers.
Through those experiences, Daily gained technical skills and confidence.
When asked what she can do now that she could not do when she started, Daily’s first answer was simple: “Drive a tractor,” she said.
Her next answer illustrated a different kind of growth.
“I can speak to people a lot more confidently. Before, I didn’t like to talk, and it’s definitely helped me get out of my comfort zone,” Daily said.
That confidence led to one of her biggest graduation moments. Daily was chosen to be a commencement speaker and shared a message focused on effort, persistence,
“I want people to know that their hard work pays off, even if other people don’t see it,” she said.
For students considering EICC, Daily points to the support
“It’s a good environment, and if you’re struggling with something, they will help you out. It’s a well-rounded community college,” she said.
Graduation gives Daily a new starting point. It also gives her proof that she did not need to grow up on a farm to belong in agriculture. She just needed to start.