Spotlight: Kaitlyn Anderson
Meet Kaitlyn: Advancing Agricultural Communication from Australia to Texas
After graduating in 2022, with a Bachelor's in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science, accompanied by a minor in Science Communication, from Murdoch University in Western Australia, Kaitlyn landed her dream job as an Agricultural Research and Extension Coordinator for the Facey Group, a small non-for-profit farmer cooperative research organization in the remote town of Wickepin, Western Australia. This broad-acre dryland mixed operation farming community produces small grains, such as wheat, barley, and oats, integrated with livestock, predominantly sheep, with an average of just 15 inches of rainfall during the growing season.
Working closely with local farmers, Kaitlyn delivered practical, region-specific research focused on whole-system drought mitigation strategies and improving nitrogen efficiency through the implementation of novel legumes. She thrived in the fast-paced environment, designing and managing multiple farm-scale trials and extension projects. Her time at Facey Group has been instrumental in shaping her collaborative approach to agricultural research and deepening her passion for stakeholder engagement and science communication.
Driven by a passion to move science beyond research journals and into the hands of farmers in ways that are both effective and engaging, Kaitlyn moved to Lubbock, Texas, to pursue a Master’s in Agricultural Communication at Texas Tech University. From the start, her goal was clear: to improve how agricultural science is communicated so it reaches those who need it most, in a form they value and can apply. Accompanying her studies at Texas Tech University, Kaitlyn works as a Graduate Research Assistant with the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock. She has contributed to the development of extension materials and analyzed workshop evaluations to enhance producer education efforts, while the research and extension center supports her thesis research.
While farmers remain at the heart of her motivations and values, Kaitlyn acknowledges the broader system in which they operate, one shaped by institutions, policies, and knowledge networks that influence their ability to adapt and thrive. Supporting farmers means looking beyond the farm gate to address the larger structures that drive agricultural progress.
Her master’s research on extension agents’ motivations to share and seek information has begun to unpack these dynamics. County extension agents are a vital resource for Texas farmers, and it is essential to equip them with the tools, training, and support they need to be effective educators and advocates. Strengthening their capacity ultimately strengthens the farmers they serve, helping them reach both the operational and personal goals. As she begins her PhD in Agricultural Communication and Education at Texas Tech, Kaitlyn is committed to improving how science is communicated and flows among institutions, media, policymakers, and farmers, ensuring farmers have the knowledge and information they need to make informed decisions.
