Class of 2023: Ashlyn Clemmer champions the next generation of Virginia beef cattle producers
Clemmer, who grew up on a multigeneration commercial cattle farm, hopes to start a youth arm of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association to encourage young beef producers.
Ashlyn Clemmer. Photo courtesy of Clemmer.
As a ninth-generation farmer who grew up working on her family’s commercial beef cattle farm, Ashlyn Clemmer always knew she wanted to make a positive impact in the beef industry one day. A college capstone course in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences presented the opportunity to do it while still a student.
Clemmer, who will be the first in her family to graduate from college in May with a bachelor’s degree in animal and poultry sciences, worked with the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association to identify and create a whole new category of membership for the organization: youth.
“This was an opportunity for me to give back to the agriculture community and help encourage the next generation of farmers,” she said. “There really aren’t any organizations for young commercial cattle producers – they’re all purebred associations – and the news surrounding the industry can be very discouraging. We need to take care of these young cattle producers so they will be successful in managing their operations and family farms to preserve the cattle industry in Virginia.”
While working as an intern last summer with Virginia Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director Brandon Reeves, Clemmer helped create the structure for a self-sustaining Youth Membership program that would support high school and college students interested in beef production.
Like the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, the youth membership arm would provide educational, networking, and advocacy opportunities for young producers interested in building a progressive and successful future in Virginia’s beef commodity market. Clemmer drafted a detailed plan and budget for the group for her capstone, then wrote and submitted a grant application to the Virginia Cattle Industry Board for VCA Youth Membership, which is now awaiting approval.
“The work Ashlyn did during her internship will benefit the association for years to come with the membership changes and new ideas that she proposed,” Reeves said. “She went the extra mile with every project she was assigned. We are excited to see the positive impact she will have on Virginia’s cattle industry.”
Clemmer’s family runs Dividing Ridge Farms LLC in Middlebrook, a commercial cow-calf operation that also produces hay, soybeans, and corn.
“Farming runs in our blood,” she said. “My mom tells me that as soon as I could walk, I would go out in the dark in the morning to feed a bottle calf. Before I got my license, I was driving the truck out every morning to check the calves. By the time I was in middle school, I was shadowing veterinarians. I just grew up with it and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
Throughout middle and high school, Clemmer was active in FFA and became increasingly involved as a leader.
After graduating from Blue Ridge Community College, she transferred to Virginia Tech. Clemmer completed her bachelor’s degree in two years while also working at the Virginia Tech Meat Center, a U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved meat processing plant run almost entirely by students, and serving on Virginia Tech’s Beef Leadership Council. As the council’s vice president, she helped put together a Youth Beef Day that brought more than 100 students from all over the state to campus for a day of learning about the beef industry and college opportunities.
Clemmer credits her early exposure to leadership roles in the FFA and at Virginia Tech with inspiring her vision for a Virginia Cattlemen’s Association Youth Membership program.
“I used to be super shy. I didn’t want to public speak or take initiative,” she said. “FFA turned me into a different person. I saw how much that organization impacted me and allowed me to grow my knowledge and opportunities in agriculture. Having that experience helped me think about providing the same opportunities for young cattle producers to explore what their future holds.”
Clemmer is still exploring what her future holds – pursuing opportunities to continue working in the beef industry. She’s also staying busy with her side business as a photographer, shooting graduation photos, weddings, and senior portraits.
“I definitely plan on being a huge part of my family’s farm,” she said. “I’d like to get additional experience that I can bring back to add value to my family’s operation.”
Clemmer also aspires to hold future leadership and advocacy roles to support agriculture and the beef industry.
“Virginia Tech has opened a lot of doors for me,” she said. “I’ve gotten some great experiences and leadership skills and learned how much I can accomplish with hard work. My priority is making an impact in the industry and doing something good.”
