GREENWICH, N.Y. — According to Chrissy Putman, she was basically born into the dairy industry. Her mother was a herd manager for a local dairy farm, and her family owned several Holsteins. Originally from Schuylerville, N.Y., Chrissy began showing cows at age six and was even gifted a calf of her own from a local farm. She continued showing cows and by the time she was in high school she had a small herd of her own and worked at a dairy farm on the weekends and in the summers.
Chrissy was also highly involved in many youth organizations growing up like FFA, 4-H, and the New York Junior Holstein Association. These organizations gave her a better understanding of her own animals as she said, “From a young age I could tell that I was more familiar with biological facts than my peers. I largely credit this to dairy bowl contests I participated in.”
She went on to attend Virginia Tech University and now works as a Client Service Representative (CSR) for Trans Ova Genetics Maryland. Trans Ova Genetics provides reproductive services for cattle and small ruminants. In her role as a CSR, Chrissy explained that she communicates with clients that are looking to set up their cattle for in vitro fertilization (IVF). “I collect the donor heifer/cow’s information, determine what dosage of follicle stimulating hormone she may need, and input what sire we will use to fertilize the oocytes,” shared Chrissy. “Seven days after the oocytes collection, client service representatives reach out to the respective client with results on how many embryos were made. To sum it up, as a CSR, I start the process and conclude it.”
Chrissy continued, “Trans Ova Genetics and myself help farmers/ranchers achieve their reproductive and genetic goals. Each client has a different goal, we listen and provide the best results we can to help reach those aspirations. Sometimes those goals are creating more offspring from a very valuable cow. For others, it may be to have better genetics for marbling in their beef herd. The goals are endless, and we treat each client as a unique situation to help them succeed in their sector of the agricultural industry.”
Many of Chrissy’s past experiences have proven beneficial in her job today. The farm she worked at when in high school performed IVF work on some of its animals so she was able to have some background and experience with the process before she joined Trans Ova Genetics. She also credits the youth organizations she was a part of for helping her develop the public speaking and communication skills that she uses in her work today. “If I wasn’t exposed to the [public speaking] kinds of contests and experiences from the young age I was, I would be far less confident presenting myself during a speech or interview. Part of the reason I believe I have received some of the awards and positions I have is due to the confidence that is portrayed in the room and being able to ‘take up space’ during those important moments,” said Chrissy.
For someone interested in the reproductive field of agriculture, Chrissy recommends shadowing a veterinarian that specializes in IVF and embryo transfer work. “It is very important to understand the hormones in the body and how to utilize them for optimal results,” she explained. More specifically if someone is interested in client services Chrissy recommends learning how to comfortably talk on the phone saying, “Not everyone loves to pick up the phone and call someone, but it is necessary to build connections, trust, and better relationships with clients.” Chrissy also encourages students to, “Say ‘yes’ to every opportunity possible. I probably passed up more than I should have out of fear. Sometimes the more valuable lessons in life are outside of the classroom.”
Chrissy is happy to answer any questions from students about her job or the reproductive field of agriculture. She can be reached at 518-338-6039 or via email at [email protected].
A new column from Morning Ag Clips, “Cultivating Ag Careers” introduces agriculture students and FFAers to the wide variety of careers that exist in agriculture. Each week a new individual will be introduced, who will share their journey: their educational experiences, their work, and what role their job plays in the wide world of agriculture.
Tune in each Wednesday to learn more about the different jobs and personalities that make up the ag industry!
