The reoccurring news headline of cattle’s presumed negative impact on the environment is an unanswered question the beef industry must answer. Many people in the industry have avoided this question, but one young cattle producer has done her homework. Prepared herself with the facts, she has stepped forward to convey to consumers that cattle offer a solution to global environmental problems. Jonwyn Ayres, a fifth-generation rancher raised in Western Montana and Southern Oregon, is passionate about empowering others to be advocates. 

Jonwyn is now a college student pursuing an undergraduate degree in Agriculture Economics and planning to continue on to law school. She hopes to use her experiences to advocate for the agriculture industry concerning matters of environmental science. Jonwyn attributes her success in advocacy and speaking to FFA, 4-H, and the many mentors along the way. Ranching has been a way of life for Jonwyn since birth, and she now realizes the importance of encouraging people in the industry to speak up and tell their stories.