Saydee Longhurst’s request for small hay bales from her dad led to the creation of her own hay business, Cleo’s Cuttings, which helped pay for her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Agriculture Education at Utah State University. She started with a few hundred bales and expanded to over 2,000 bales per season, serving customers with horses, goats, and 4H animals. Longhurst’s involvement in FFA in high school and college solidified her passion for agriculture, and she now hopes to work on a farm, teach, or serve as an extension educator in the future.
Longhurst’s business success allowed her to graduate debt-free and build up savings while pursuing her master’s degree. She has gained valuable teaching experience through student teaching in Italy and at Rigby High School, and plans to continue teaching agriculture and sharing her love for the industry. Longhurst will return to Italy to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching agriculture abroad and hopes to incorporate a global perspective into her future career.
Longhurst’s experiences have reinforced her love for agriculture and her desire to share the positive aspects of the industry with others. She plans to continue working in the hay business while pursuing a career in agriculture education, with a focus on telling the story of agriculture and promoting its importance. Longhurst’s journey from a simple request for hay bales to teaching agriculture abroad has shaped her passion for the industry and her desire to inspire others.
