Dillon Meadows, an agribusiness management major, is the 2019 Outstanding Senior for the Division of Resource
Economics and Management.
Having grown up on a family-owned
ranch, this Paradise, Texas, native has a strong agricultural and business
background. During his undergraduate career, Meadows was fortunate to intern alongside
his father and grandfather. As a ranch technician, he was responsible for the
care, maintenance and sale of more than 500 head of cattle.
Meadows is member of the WVU
Baseball Team, a senior member of the WVU Finance Club and a volunteer for
Chestnut Mountain Ranch.
Following graduation, he plans to pursue a master’s degree in finance in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics.
Why did you choose your major?
I chose my major because agriculture and business have
always been interests of mine, being able to study the operations side of
things with the agriculture aspect was the best of both worlds.
What has been your most meaningful experience in the Davis College and WVU?
The most meaningful experience within the Davis College
and WVU has most definitely been the people. The people within the college and
university are well-rounded, genuine, and hardworking. The whole campus of WVU
embodies a family-type atmosphere that has enhanced my experience.
Was there a professor or staff member who impacted you
more than others? If so, who and why?
Yes, Dr. Elizabeth Byrd. I think she really knew how to
make things better in the classroom. She made uninteresting topics much easier
to understand and comprehend and was always there if I needed help or had
questions
What is one thing you would have done differently?
I wish I could have spent more time within the Davis
College, but being a student-athlete consumes a lot of my time and energy.
Speaking of being a student athlete, how did you balance athletics and academics?
Balancing
athletics and academics is not any easy task but can be done with the right
amount of discipline and effort. Every spring when baseball season rolls
around, I am constantly in and out of the classroom because of travel. I have
done many assignments on planes and bus rides. Performing not only in the
classroom but on the field is challenging as well. I put in many hours for
baseball, from practicing, weightlifting, and long days of traveling to the
Midwest for our conference games. Having a good relationship with my
professors and staying in consistent contact with them has allowed me to be the
most successful I can be.
What problem do you want to solve?
There are many problems that agriculture is facing
today. I want to solve the agriculture literacy issue. Whether it be animal
welfare, natural resources, sustainability or environmental laws, literacy is
very important to our growing population.
What’s your advice for the Class of 2019?
Never give up on anything. You can do anything you set
your mind to and that’s the truth. Always stay disciplined and persistent. The
only two things that you can control are your own attitude and effort.