Dr. Caitlin Youngquist started out wanting to be a veterinarian, but then discovered soil science and was so taken by it that she got a PhD, and has devoted her career to serving farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. A practitioner and promoter of regenerative agriculture, she has worked with Conservation Districts, non-profit orgs, Extension, and her own small business, Dirt Works Wyoming, a company that provides compost statewide. She uses science as a tool to solve on-the-ground problems, which range from crops and livestock issues to mental health, family dynamics, and food insecurity. She also guides hunting programs for women, is a volunteer firefighter.
TIMELINE
2’22 how Caitlin discovered agriculture and soil science
3’33 the value of applied science for solving real problems
4’23 what is Extension
4’52 the non-elitist focus of extension, taking academic research to the people
6’54 how extension actually works
8’40 food insecurity and food deserts in an agricultural state, starting a food garden
11’30 making sure initiatives last beyond their founder
13’17 taking the holistic/social work perspective as an extension educator
14’39 people get isolated on their farms
16’31 the importance of letting go of a scarcity/competition mindset and sharing knowledge
18’28 difficulty making generational transition of management
20’12 the difficulty in calling for help with family conflicts
22’17 the difference between complicated and complex systems
24’59 analogies between soil health and community health
27’17 efficiency vs resiliency
29’37 the one nation that feeds itself has high biodiversity and regenerative ag
30’21 making sure local food is not an elite activity
32’40 becoming a hunter
34’21 why hunting is so powerful for women in particular
40’05 whether hunting supports species conservation
42’29 compost company Dirt Works Wyoming
44’14 agriculture and soil science as a great career for young people to consider
45’47 drcaitlinyoungquist.com
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