Elise Jaramillo Cattle Reproduction Lab Technician J. R. Simplot Company Fresno, California
What education are you bringing with you to this position?
In July I completed a Bachelor of Science in animal sciences with a pre-veterinary option. I also have an associate’s degree in mathematical sciences from Victor Valley Community College.
Please describe your agricultural background.
I grew up with dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, horses and even a deer. Other than the horses, I did not have much exposure to livestock until joining FFA my freshman year of high school. Being from a town that was not big in agriculture of its own, I spent all four years of high school gaining as much hands-on experience with the school’s cattle and hogs as possible, along with raising my own hog. Not until I arrived at Fresno State did I begin to really see the full scale and impact of agriculture, and I have not stopped learning everything that I can about it since.
What are your new responsibilities?
My responsibilities in our Fresno cattle reproduction laboratory involve every stage of the process in producing IVF embryos. I also assist our embryologist in all of the new research.
What previous positions have you held?
I began working as a veterinary technician as soon as I graduated from high school in 2008 and continued to do so until I was hired on full-time with Simplot Animal Sciences. In the past six years, I was given the opportunity to work at both small and large animal clinics, greatly enjoying the latter.
Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
There are two people who have helped me immensely in getting to this point in my career, the first being my mom. She is not only an incredible support system, but I am very thankful to her for instilling such a strong work ethic in me from a young age. She taught me to always do my best, and then to do better. And the second is my veterinarian, mentor and previous boss: Dr. Michael Stabbe. He never once hesitated to share his hard-earned wisdom with me and set a great example of what it means to be honest, kind and passionate in your work.
How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
The dairy industry is a never-ending learning environment, which is a big plus for me with my desire to absorb all of the knowledge that I can. I also bring with me a detailed, science-based education and a passion for livestock reproduction, nutrition and management.
Why did you choose this company?
Simplot as a company is far from ordinary; they stand out in everything that they do, which is a very attractive quality. I wanted to be a part of something innovative as well as fascinating, which led me here. With how the J. R. Simplot Company treats its employees, on top of allowing us the chance to explore all of the new cattle reproductive technologies, I really could not have made a better choice.
What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
My hope is to not only become more than proficient in all that I do in this position, but to continue to grow in my career and keep my yearning for more knowledge. PD
