LEXINGTON, Ky. — Whitney Peck grew up surrounded by livestock on her parents' and grandparents' farms in Fredonia, Kentucky, but her formal education at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has given her something her farm experience could not: understanding the "why" behind agricultural practices.

"I knew that we had to give our cows mineral, but I never knew why," Peck said. "Then going through the animal science program, I learned you give mineral for these certain reasons."

The rising senior, who is profiled by UK News, has spent the summer interning with Pratt Feeders Group in Pratt, Kansas, where she performs a range of duties in the cattle feedlot. Her mornings involve working in shipping and receiving, weighing and documenting incoming cattle. Her afternoons consist of "doctoring" cattle alongside the head cowboy, addressing issues such as rectal prolapses and foot rot using computer systems that access individual animal records and treatment recommendations.

Anne DeMott, Martin-Gatton CAFE director of transfer and graduate recruitment, connected Peck with the Kansas opportunity through mutual contacts in the cattle industry. "Whitney exemplifies what happens when preparation meets initiative and the courage to pursue goals," DeMott said.

Peck's practical experience extends beyond her current internship. This past spring, she worked at Bluegrass Stockyards in Lexington, and in summer 2025, she participated in the UK Cooperative Extension Service internship program through the Warren County Extension Office. During that assignment, she realized that cattle farming encompasses far more than livestock management alone.

"There are also 14,000 other things that go into it," Peck said, noting her exposure to issues ranging from weed management to attending district court meetings and appearing on local radio stations.

As Peck begins her senior year this fall, she will receive a second scholarship from The Bill Gatton Foundation, which committed $100 million to the college with a focus on student support. The scholarship targets students with agricultural backgrounds, reflecting Peck's vision of the future.

"It's an opportunity for those farm kids to keep furthering our knowledge and maybe be something in the industry, with that college education behind it," Peck said. "We can always be advocates of this industry — not just the beef industry but agriculture as a whole."