Ashley Bush Udder Care Specialist, Western U.S. ABS Global Fallon, Nevada
What education are you bringing with you to this position?
In 2004 I graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics and a minor in animal science and organizational leadership and supervision.
Please describe your agricultural background.
I grew up in the suburbs of Indianapolis, Indiana, with virtually no background in production agriculture. I rode horses competitively growing up and thought I wanted to be a large animal vet due to my passion for animals, but after a year at Purdue, I realized it wasn’t my true calling. I knew deep down that I wanted to work with farmers one day and decided to start my career in agricultural sales.
What territory will you cover?
I cover the western U.S., west of Utah.
What are your new responsibilities?
The udder care specialist position is designed to support our distribution channel as well as internal ABS employees and independent representatives that work with our product. I will be on farm regularly to answer questions or troubleshoot problems, ultimately trying to decrease the risk of mastitis and increase milk quality.
What previous positions have you held?
I was employed by Dow AgroSciences/Mycogen Seeds for five and a half years prior to ABS. I began as a trainee in West Des Moines, Iowa, where I worked on a project for a new nitrogen stabilizer product in row crops. After the project was completed, I was transferred to California, where I became the sales representative for Mycogen Seeds. I worked the geography of Fresno County to the northern California border selling corn seed to dairy farmers both directly and via distribution.
Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
My mentor during my project in Iowa, Bob Wagner. He taught me what true passion was and that you must truly believe in what you are selling if you are going to be successful in the sales world. He also made me realize that I shouldn’t feel like I’m going to work every day. It should be something that genuinely fulfills me.
How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
I want to bring solutions to the table for the producers I come in contact with. If they are facing challenges, whether it is animal health or milk quality or a combination of the two, I want to bring ideas and products to their awareness in order to fix those issues. I’ve always looked up to producers for what they do for me and our world every day, so I feel the least I can do for them is make their job a little less stressful and more profitable where and when I can.
Why did you choose this company?
I chose ABS because they are a proven global leader in the bovine industry and their positive culture really stuck out to me. They are very much a people-centric organization, from the employee to the customer and everything in between. I felt as though I could further my career and continue challenging myself in the workplace without having to move from the western U.S. in order to do so.
What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
I look forward to networking and meeting individuals across the western U.S. and to continue learning about the animal health side of the dairy business. My goal a year from now is to know the ins and outs of mastitis and milk quality, and be able to bring knowledge to those around me regarding those topics. I would like to be an instrumental piece to our growth in the West and continue working with producers whom I consider to be the most inspiring people out there. PD
