Connor Pickhinke, from Early, Iowa, stood at the intersection of academics and entrepreneurship. Connor graduated in May 2024 with a degree in Animal Science and a minor in Agronomy.  Throughout his time at ISU, Connor immersed himself in various campus activities. He was an active member of the Iowa State CALS Ambassadors, Rodeo Club, Collegiate Cattlemen, and CALS Student Council. Through these involvements, he not only shaped his academic journey but also laid the groundwork for his entrepreneurial pursuits.  

The path to entrepreneurship was illuminated for Connor through the Start Something CALS Program at Iowa State University. Introduced to the program during Kevin Kimle’s Small Business Management course (ECON 2340), Connor’s journey took flight during a Spring 2023 Start Something CALS travel course to Brazil and Argentina. There, he delved into the world of carbon credits, igniting a passion for regenerative agriculture. This passion materialized into action as he invested in his own cover crop planter, a tangible step towards his vision of sustainable farming practices on his family’s farm. Connor’s involvement within Start Something CALS was transformative and offered him a network of like-minded individuals and real-world experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial spirit.  

Currently, Connor is a Non-Hormone Treated Cattle Buyer, a role that blends his academic learnings with practical agricultural expertise. However, his ambitions extend beyond the cattle market. As his family’s third-generation row crop farm expands, he aims to continue to explore new opportunities in hopes of returning there one day. Through his participation in Start Something CALS, Connor not only gained the tools to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape but also cultivated a mindset of innovation and sustainability that will continue to guide his future endeavors.