Shelby Oesterreicher
Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Graduate student
Shelby Oesterreicher had the unique opportunity to work as a media assistant with the PIE Center when she was an undergraduate student in the agricultural education and communication department. She also worked with the PIE Center as an undergraduate student to complete her undergraduate thesis. Oesterreicher recently experienced a different opportunity when she began working as a graduate assistant with the PIE Center in Fall of 2017.
As a graduate assistant with the PIE Center, Oesterreicher has been assisting with a grant project that is looking at the successful implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs), specifically allowing her to write stories that will be featured in the Florida Grower magazine.
“My favorite aspect of the PIE Center is being able to implement the skills I have learned as a student at the University of Florida,” Oesterreicher said. “The grant I get to work on allows me to use my talents while promoting the agricultural industry.”
Oesterreicher also values the mentorship and guidance from faculty that work with the PIE Center.
“The faculty are also an important component of the PIE Center,” Oesterreicher said. “It is a privilege to work with and learn from such a talented group of individuals.”
The PIE Center also helped shape how Oesterriecher views consumer perceptions in the agricultural industry.
“The PIE Center has showed me how vital consumer perceptions are to the success of the agricultural industry. Understanding what consumers think is important for producers to know, so they can better serve their audience,” Oesterreicher said.
Oesterriecher will graduate later this semester in December 2017 and wants to work as a communicator in the agricultural industry.
“I hope to work in the agricultural industry as a communicator and public relations specialist,” Oesterreicher said. “I am particularly interested in working in the beef industry.”
