Stephen Mathews
Otero College
If there was one thing that stood out from our conversation with Kari White, it was her deep-rooted appreciation for “community.”
As the Animal Science instructor at Otero College, White leads students through the facets of animal science and our relationship with the quality of our food, the health of our pets, and the industries that are built around livestock production. In order to make this program the success that it is, White has been working closely with the surrounding community. “Community is the core of who we are,” White asserts, describing internships and excursions made available to her students by local businesses and people. For example, Kurt Russell, former owner of WW Feed, visited White’s classroom to help teach labs. “How willing the community is to work together has been my favorite part of this job.”
Animal Science is one of many ag-based programs offered at Otero College, all of which belong to a large catalog of Career and Technical Education program catalog. While these CTE programs also include Cosmetology and Barbering, Welding, Construction, Law Enforcement, and Allied Health, the agriculture programs include Ag Business Management, Agriculture Production, and Animal Science. White and her colleagues Linsay Sumpter and Becky Sporrer bring a determined, collaborative approach to their instruction. “It’s a real team,” says White. “We all work really well together.”
By participating in White’s classes, students learn about nutrition, physiology, and reproduction – where White herself got her start. After finding Soil and Crop studies less interesting, White switched to Animal Studies while at CSU, Fort Collins. Thereafter, she started working in Wellington where her boss inspired her to go to pursue MA and PHD degrees from Kansas State University. While there, White was given the opportunity to work while in graduate school.
When asked what inspired her return to the Arkansas Valley, White repeats her gratitude for the community, stating, “As a mother of four kids, I realized that in order to serve my kids and my community, I needed to be in the community. I feel very welcome at Otero. This has been the best working culture I have been in.”
White continues to make positive changes in her students’ lives, and is consistently looking for more ways to adapt her classes to meet their needs. For example, White has networked with other educators in the state to find out how to allow more high school students to start their college classes early. Additionally, the Feedlot Management class recently got beef quality assurance certification, which is quite exciting.
Beyond the classroom, White, Sumpter and Sporrer are finding ways to strengthen the connection between Otero College and the surrounding communities. Currently, the team is excited to welcome community members to “A Night at the Races” – the annually anticipated Ag Gala set to take place March 8th, 2025. This year, guests can look forward to simulated horse race betting, themed entrees, dancing, and more.
For more information and ticket purchasing, visit https://otero.edu/campus-community/ag-gala/.
Looking ahead, White is excited by the many opportunities that continue to become available to her students both on and off campus. As the Ag programs continue to adapt to the ever-changing world around us, educators like White are essential to the stewardship of our collective future.
