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DOWAGIAC — Agriculture for Andrea “Andie” Lee began as soon as she could walk.

With roots in the farming industry, Lee’s great-grandparents were farmers and owned a dairy farm. Her grandfather worked at the dairy and owned a hog farm. Her mother was involved with showing horses and doing 4-H shows.

At a young age, Lee grew up showing at the Hillsdale County Fair and in 4-H.

“We always had animals around us,” she said. “We had a bunch of draft horses when I was growing up, and now, we have close to 20 goats in a barn. The animal side of agriculture has always been around.”

Staying true to her love of agriculture, Lee, a dual enrolled student with Southwestern Michigan College’s partnership with Michigan State University’s Institute of Agriculture Technology, was recently crowned Miss Agriculture USA 2020 representing Rhode Island.

“Michigan had a queen when I applied, but the leaders of the organization loved the application and asked me to be a queen for another state,” Lee said.

Through the experience, she learned to advocate for agriculture.

Lee found herself touring SMC after meeting a recruitment officer at a county event. At the time, she thought she would be headed to Michigan State University.

“I went to SMC and that’s when I decided I love my college in the cornfields,” she said.

When Lee first started college, she wanted to be a vet or an agronomist and as time went on she found out she enjoyed teaching. She decided to go into agribusiness and then get a teaching certificate so she can become an agriscience teacher.

Last year, while searching for an internship, Lee got involved with the Berrien County MSU Extension office and served in an Americorps position. Lee was then offered a position as a 4-H assistant, working in schools with agriscience, embryology and career exploration.

“I love working with the kids, being able to educate and get the experience while going to school,” Lee said. “It was the opportunity of a lifetime at that moment for me.”

Lee, who is from Hudson, Michigan, lived on campus at Southwestern Michigan College’s before classes went online amid COVID-19.

“I come from a smaller town with more cornfields, and I absolutely love the Dowagiac community over there,” Lee said of her experience at SMC.

Lee has also continued to give back to her hometown. Last year, she volunteered for youth judging at the Hillsdale County fair. This year, she was voted on as the Young Farmer Chair on the Hillsdale County Farm Bureau’s board of directors.

“It was definitely a quick and very awesome turn of events,” Lee said.

As Lee continues her education at SMC and MSU, she feels it is important to advocate for farmers to still get college educations.

“Farmers have to have their pesticide tests and get certified to spread manure in some places,” she said.

Lee said in her area, she has never met a farmer under the age of 40 who has not had a degree.

“In today’s age, there is a lot of farmers who have to eventually go to school to get their degrees,” Lee said. “There is a lot of people and consumers that don’t understand that agriculture is changing and there is a lot more than what meets the eye.”

Lee said through her program there is an agriculture club at SMC, which allows industry professionals to speak to students.

“We get to ask the real-life questions,” Lee said.

As the year progresses, Lee will continue to be involved in the Collegiate Farm Bureau, the Hillsdale County Farm Bureau, helping FFA chapters and 4-H clubs, on top of attending SMC and working with Berrien County MSU Extension.

“Juggling all of the responsibilities can get frustrating and overwhelming at times, but I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Lee said.