Carson McFatridge
Carson McFatridge, a December 2025 wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture graduate, grew up on a hobby farm nurturing sheep, rabbits, cows, horses and more. She and her parents even raised bull calves to help pay for her education. Through 4-H, she showed animals and participated in the Wildlife Habitat Education Program, which introduced her to conservation land management at an early age.
Her grandfathers further instilled a love of the outdoors and a responsibility to protect it. One was a pipeline welder, commercial sturgeon fisherman and fur trapper; the other, a superintendent and rural education advocate.
聽鈥淥ften I was the only girl on fishing or hunting trips. Both my grandfathers opening that door, teaching me about marksmanship and conservation, have helped me move past many barriers,鈥 McFatridge said.
She said she has found a way to blend what each grandfather represented.
鈥淚鈥檓 a strong advocate with a desire to work in public service, and I鈥檓 passionate about conserving our natural resources in a way that lets us use them while ensuring they鈥檙e here for future generations. Bringing those two things together is what I see myself doing, and I鈥檓 grateful both my grandfathers invested in me,鈥 she said.
The Searcy, Arkansas native first came to MSU for the early-entry veterinary program, but her involvement in student government shifted her focus toward people and policy and she switched from wildlife veterinary medicine to the wildlife agriculture conservation concentration.
鈥淪tudent government helped me realize that I wanted to improve day-to-day lives and bring communities together,鈥 she said.
The 2024 MSU Student Association president represented 23,000 students and led initiatives including a campus bat house project, on-campus pickleball courts and Voting Notary Day to help absentee voters.
Through the Demmer Scholars Program, McFatridge interned in Washington, D.C. with the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, researching key issues and observing federal policymaking up close.
鈥淚 had a front-row seat to how policy is made, serving on Waters, Wildlife, and Fisheries and Public Lands subcommittees and in the communications division,鈥 she said.
She said her most rewarding experience at MSU has been as a delegate for the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching of the Association of Public and Land鈥慻rant Universities.
鈥淭hat experience rounded out my perspective. I had a science background and saw the legislative side during my internship. This showed me the middle piece of advocacy and translation. Now I feel like I鈥檝e experienced the three working parts of how policy gets from point A to point B,鈥 she said.
Next fall, McFatridge will begin a dual master鈥檚 program in agricultural economics and rural development at the University of Arkansas, spending the first year in Fayetteville and the second in Europe.
Her MSU involvement as a CFR ambassador and member of the CFR Dean鈥檚 Council of Student Leaders reflects her dedication to leadership, service and the future of natural resources.
鈥淒r. Bullard, CFR鈥檚 associate dean, likes to say natural resources isn鈥檛 just about what or who you know, but about who knows you,鈥 she said. 鈥淧ut yourself out there and build relationships that mean something. When you become someone people recognize and can find common ground with, that鈥檚 what leads to success. I鈥檝e taken that to heart because conservation doesn鈥檛 just affect the people who work in it. It affects us all.鈥