Sagner has a promising future in agriculture
Growing up as the sixth-generation in her family’s cow/calf operation southwest of Chugwater, Megan Sagner is deeply rooted in agriculture.
“This lifestyle has allowed me to develop a deep appreciation for all things agriculture and the people within the industry, and it truly is my greatest passion,” Megan expresses.
Her parents work on the family ranch operated by her grandparents, who live two miles up the road from Megan’s childhood home.
“Going to the ranch was like daycare for my older sister and me,” she shares. “Whatever was going on at the ranch, from moving cows, fencing and checking salt and mineral for cows, we were there. We spent many hours coloring in the horse trailer while my family worked cows.”
She also recalls spending countless hours in a baby carrier riding horses with her parents until she was old enough to ride on her own.
“I cannot emphasize enough how blessed I am to have been raised in agriculture and grow up in this lifestyle,” she adds. “Being raised in agriculture has taught me the importance of hard work and dedication and that great things never come while remaining in our comfort zone.”
A passion for ag
Megan is a freshman at Sheridan College in Sheridan, studying animal science, biology and farrier science.
“I knew I wanted to study something that would complement and supplement my passion for agriculture,” Megan states. “My grandpa has always emphasized the importance of leaving the ranch to learn new skills, gain knowledge and return with a trait benefiting the operation.”
Before college, Megan was highly involved in extracurricular activities from a young age, especially 4-H and FFA.
“I spent 10 years showing market swine, market beef, breeding beef, dogs and horses through 4-H, while also serving in leadership roles for my local 4-H club. I spent three years serving on the Platte County 4-H Junior Leadership Team as treasurer, secretary and president,” she states.
During her career, she exhibited the Platte County Grand Champion Market Hog in 2019, the Platte County Fair Best in Show Dog in 2020, the Platte County Reserve Champion Market Hog in 2021 and the Wyoming State Fair Champion Angus Steer in 2022 and 2024, both with ranch-raised calves.
With three of her ranch-raised steers, she won the Platte County Market Beef Grand Drive as division and reserve champions in 2022 and the Champion Supreme Cow in 2024 with a three-year-old cow from her own herd.
Megan even traveled to Belize in 2023 through the Wyoming 4-H International Exchange.
She says, “Showing livestock has instilled in me a deep sense of hard work, dedication and resilience, as I had many highs and lows throughout my show career – starting with losing one of my markets hogs the very first year I was showing.”
Megan’s parents always reminded her and her sister to win with humility and lose with grace, which has stuck with her for more than just showing in 4-H.
“I have been beyond blessed with success in 4-H, and it isn’t about winning buckles, ribbons or banners, it’s about the lessons learned and memories and friendships made,” she remarks.
Ag leadership
Megan has been extremely successful in her FFA career, serving as a sentinel, treasurer and secretary of the Chugwater FFA Chapter and as president of the Wheatland FFA Chapter for two years.
“I have had the utmost privilege of competing at the National FFA Convention six times, where I placed among the top competitors each time,” she states. “The greatest of those accomplishments was finishing as the third high team in farm business management at National FFA, where my team walked the stage in the Lucas Oil Stadium, and one of our team members was the high individual overall nationally.”
During her senior year of high school, she coached the Wheatland FFA Farm Business Management Team to a state win where they competed at the National FFA Convention last fall, as well as the National FFA Veterinary Science Competition.
Her involvement in FFA has allowed her to gain valuable skills from an array of competitions, many of which have proved valuable in college. It has also deepened her passion for agriculture and those in the industry.
“Agriculture truly is a family where everyone has each other’s backs, so one of the most crucial factors of agriculture is gaining connections,” she adds.
Future in ag
After graduating from Sheridan College, Megan plans to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine or ruminant nutrition.
“I plan to attend West Texas A&M University or Kansas State University to finish a bachelor’s degree with hopes of also being a meats judge at the collegiate level,” she adds. “Long-term, after attending either school, I ultimately want to return to the family ranch.”
While at Sheridan College, Megan has been involved in many organizations, including Wyoming Farm Bureau (WyFB) where she recently competed at the WyFB Young Farmers and Ranchers discussion meet.
“The first round of the discussion meet was held in Cody, which brought a lot of expected jitters, but it was a confidence boost going into the second round,” she remarks. “Thanks to two members and mentors, Becka Nutting and Brand Terrell, I went into the final round as prepared as possible, and it paid off in the end, leading me to the national competition in March.”
A bright future
“My family has always pushed me to do my best in everything and value resilience. I credit my success to the way I was raised, the lessons I have learned and the community who has pushed me, helped me and congratulated me along the way,” she states.
Outside of agriculture, Megan is involved in basketball and cross country, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and student council.
Through FBLA, she has competed at the national level three times and finished as the fourth-highest individual in agribusiness in 2024 at the National FBLA Convention.
She has also played violin for 11 years, played in the Eastern Wyoming Youth Orchestra for several years and sat as concertmaster for two years, while dabbling in the banjo, mandolin and cello.
“Growing up showing cattle has allowed me to build my own herd with heifer calves from my grandparents and a couple of heifers purchased throughout the years,” she shares.
Ultimately, her goal is to have a registered Gelbvieh Balancer seedstock operation to run with the family cow/calf operation.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
