Preston Sheets
Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Agricultural Systems Management
Cortland, OH
2022 Distinguished Senior Award Recognition Reception Program (.pdf)
2022 Distinguished Senior Award Recipient Reception Poster (.pdf)
While studying abroad in Brazil with Alpha Zeta Partners, Preston Sheets gained a unique perspective on foreign agriculture and relations. During his time in Brazil, he studied under top educators at the nation’s leading agricultural school, Lois De Quieroz College of Agriculture. The experience was the most enjoyable of his undergraduate career; Preston fondly recalls the breathtaking views, close friends, and the wealth of knowledge he received about Brazil’s agriculture, natural resources, and environment.
Preston’s internship at John Deere World Headquarters served as his most valuable undergraduate learning experience. As a marketing and product support intern on the small grains production systems innovation team, Preston found himself in an all-virtual environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Preston sought to capitalize on every opportunity while at John Deere, working with company employees in Canada and India on developing and refining small grain harvesting marketing strategies on a global scale. As a dairy sire marketing intern at Select Sires, Preston traveled to twelve different states over a twelve-week period meeting with farmers, evaluating sire daughters, and discussing how the company could improve the future of herds. As both of his internships were with companies active in global agriculture, Preston feels he’s gained a well-rounded basis of knowledge on a variety of global agricultural systems. Above all, both internships afforded Preston the opportunity to meet and work with industry professionals who have had an impact in the agriculture industry and whom Preston is pleased to call his friends. He expresses his gratitude to CFAES for the chance to pursue these opportunities.
When COVID-19 halted in-person classes, Preston seized the opportunity to start his own dairy cattle genetic line. His greatest achievement came last year, when every heifer he exhibited at national shows placed in the top five and were then awarded All-American nominations. While at OSU, Preston worked numerous dairy cattle shows and sales around the country, providing excellent networking opportunities and the chance to work with some of the nation’s finest dairy cows.
Preston’s independent study with Peggy Hall, Esq., in conjunction with agricultural attorneys and farmers, helped formulate a short publication entitled “Ohio Ag Laws: A How-to Guide for Farmers,” a functional guide intended to educate Ohio farmers on the basics of state agricultural law using easy-to-understand language.
As his mentor, Preston chose to identify Dr. Dewey Mann, sharing, “Dewey has always been easy to talk to and almost like a friend. He always pushes you to be better at whatever you chose to do, and you can always go to him for anything even if he isn’t your advisor anymore. He changed my outlook on college during my first week as a freshman, and I still look up to him today.”
Upon graduating, Preston will attend Cornell University to pursue a master’s degree in Dairy Business and Genetic Management.
Service, involvement, and accolades: Ohio State Dairy Judging Team | Buckeye Dairy Club, corresponding secretary, sales committee chair | Agricultural Systems Management Club | Crops and Soils Club | CFAES Learning Community | Alpha Zeta Partners | Delta Theta Sigma, formal chair | National & Ohio Holstein Association | National Brown Swiss Association | National Red and White Holstein Association