Junior Cora Schrock credits her hardworking spirit and fierce love for livestock to the environment she was raised in, one that taught her compassion and hard work, with lessons passed down through generations.
Growing up on a cow-calf operation in Flagler, Schrock was able to experience first-hand the countless hours of dedication, care and commitment that go into raising animals.
“Living off the land has taught me great respect for our environment,” she said. “My family is proud of the conservation practices we’ve adopted to sustain our operation for five generations now.”
Childhood memories from the farm have created a deep respect for agriculture.
“That feeling after you’ve stayed up with a calving heifer all night, then seeing that healthy calf being born just as the sun finally comes up is a feeling that is unmatched and an experience that I’ll never forget,” Schrock said.
Aside from learning lessons on her family’s ranch, Schrock also heavily credits her participation in FFA and 4-H to helping her develop soft skills from public speaking and professional relationship development to confidence and a strong work ethic. Schrock went on to serve as the President of her local FFA chapter, a District FFA officer, and Washington County 4-H President throughout her time with the organizations.
“These organizations helped me to realize how deep my love for agriculture and respect for agriculturists truly is,” Schrock said.
During her time in FFA, Schrock participated in Meat Judging for two years, an experience she believes had a great impact on her decision to pursue agriculture as a career.
“Each time I went into a judging competition, I had a full circle moment where I envisioned the animal and understood how many long hours, and how much compassion and pride went into each and every one,” she said.
The countless hours of dedication and hard work paid off, as Schrock was named a Boettcher Scholar, an award given to students who demonstrate outstanding character, superior scholastic ability, leadership, service, and intellectual curiosity.
“The Boettcher Scholarship lifted a financial burden off myself and my family and allowed me to pursue my love of animal science at the school where I could be most successful,” Schrock said. “I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to study what I love, with the support of the Boettcher Foundation and its generous donors.”
Schock’s love for animals brought her to Colorado State University, where she is currently majoring in animal sciences with a dream of attending veterinary school. She credits the program with providing her with vast knowledge to set her up for success leading up to the vet school application process.
“Hands-on classes and labs have enhanced my existing understanding and passion for animal science,” she said. “They have helped me to specifically understand animal anatomy on a scientific level.”
Looking towards the future, Schrock is hoping to take her veterinary skills and give back to the communities like those that gave her start.
“[I want to] become a veterinarian in a small rural community like the one where I grew up,” Schrock said. “While pursuing veterinary medicine, I’d also like to grow my own commercial cow-calf herd with a strong emphasis on genetic selection and environmental stewardship practices.”
