Danyelle Chinn

Being a cattle producer gives this livestock economist important insight.

- By Lisa Foust

Danyelle Chinn grew up on her family's cow-calf operation near Green City in northeast Missouri, and now works with her husband, Conner, and his family on their farm about an hour southeast, near Anabel.

Chinn is also finishing her master's degree at the University of Missouri and working as a livestock economist with the university's Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF), which provides unbiased analysis to help legisla-tors understand how policy affects agriculture across Missouri. She translates USDA statistics and market reports into layman's terms, helping farmers and ranchers make decisions about their business.

SF: Tell us about growing up on your family's cow-calf operation.

DC: If we lived in Wyoming or Texas, we would be called a ranch because all we do is run cattle, although we do have forage. My dad was a team roper, so I was always around horses and cattle. I always loved agriculture, cattle specifically, and just wanted to be a part of that industry.

SF: When you went to Mizzou for your under-grad, you were originally studying ag law. What changed your mind?