Heather Porter

About Me

Education

• B.S. Morehead State University (2007)
• M.S. Morehead State University (2009)

Bio

I was born and raised in West Virginia. I grew up riding horses and helping family friends care for their livestock. My earliest jobs included caring for horses, sheep, and meat goats. These experiences created a passion for working with livestock. I continued my love of riding and training horses and learned more about other livestock, like cattle and pigs.

During college, I lived and worked at the University farm while participating in Collegiate FFA and competing on the Equestrian team. I also worked various part-time jobs (earning income and accumulating knowledge). My jobs included caring for a commercial herd of sheep and cows, seasonal hay production, cattle workups, greenhouse maintenance/sales, and I worked part-time as a veterinary assistant for a small animal veterinary clinic. During graduate school, I participated in research that involved analyzing different silage varieties grown in our region and determining which were most beneficial to cattle and the producer based on nutritional quality and yield. I also assisted with the early research involving data collection from carcass ultrasounding goats to determine the accuracy of predicting carcass merit before processing.

After college, I worked as an agricultural technician at the MSU farm (2010-2017). While there, I helped care for and manage the livestock, land, and facilities. I also assisted in teaching labs. Eventually, I took on a temporary adjunct position with MSU to teach a series of labs, and I also taught as an adjunct for MCTC for a short time. I enjoyed teaching and working with students, finding their passion in different areas of agricultural life.

In the fall of 2017, I accepted a full-time position as an animal science instructor at MSU's Department of Agricultural Sciences.

I continue to assist the farm staff with herd management and health care. I also enjoy working with students on in-house research projects involving management techniques, parasite control, and horse handling, sharing my knowledge and passion. In the community, I work as the secretary and treasurer of a local Cattlemen’s Association.

I enjoy being outside and around the farm, so I enjoy going home to work with my husband in my free time. Along with the herd of sheep, we also have three horses, livestock guardian dogs, and a couple of spoiled pets.