By Caroline Stamm
In the intricate world of agricultural policy, decisions made in Washington, D.C., have far-reaching impacts on farms across the nation. In this complex landscape, Stephanie McBath ’19, director of public policy and government affairs for Merck Animal Health, stands out as a passionate advocate for the livestock industry.
In her day-to-day job, McBath discusses animal health priorities with staffers, members of Congress and regulatory agencies. She also talks with them about products farmers and ranchers routinely rely on to protect animal health and welfare, while supporting sustainability and farm profitability. “I focus on shaping policies and regulations that impact our food supply, including some in the international trade space,” McBath said.
At Cornell, McBath majored in animal science, with a concentration in dairy management, and minored in business. She also served as president of the Cornell University Dairy Science Club (CUDS), and participated in Dairy Fellows, a groundbreaking, nationally recognized program that prepares students for careers in the dairy industry.
Dairy Fellows helped McBath identify a career path, she said. “I loved the dairy track, but I realized early on that I wasn't going into production agriculture,” she explained. “At the same time, I wanted to find a way to help farmers and contribute to the industry's success.”
As a Dairy Fellow, McBath was exposed to the breadth of the dairy industry and the careers connected to it, from veterinary medicine to agribusiness, to law and international milk markets. “Dairy Fellows hosted guest speakers, conducted farm case studies and spent several weekends each semester on farms,” McBath said. “We toured facilities, talked to dairy producers, met with employees and developed recommendations to hopefully help improve farm profitability and efficiency.”
Even before she was a Dairy Fellow, her involvement with the New York Farm Bureau and Collegiate Farm Bureau, both in high school and college, exposed McBath to the world of lobbying and the importance of advocacy.
“Many of the challenges facing the dairy industry are rooted in policy, or at least have strong policy implications,” she said. “I felt that I could make an impact in this area by advocating for farmers and influencing policy decisions, so I decided to pursue a career in policy and government relations in Washington.”
To help prepare for this goal, McBath took courses at Cornell in environmental law, policy and dairy economics, which also pushed her outside her comfort zone. After graduating, she headed to Washington to work for Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and, later, Congressman Dan Newhouse. These roles gave her firsthand experience with diverse issues ranging from immigration reform to tribal matters.
She then moved to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), where she advocated for legislative changes impacting state departments of agriculture in Congress and for regulatory changes with agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture. “What made NASDA stand out was its nonpartisan approach,” she said. “We always stuck to the consensus our members had built.”
Now at Merck Animal Health, McBath taps into her animal science background daily. "I'm passionate about this field," she said. "The livestock industry constantly faces the challenge of protecting animal health, making decisions based in sound science and working towards the goal of feeding a growing population. I'm excited to play a very small role in helping to achieve these important outcomes.”
Looking ahead, McBath sees both challenges and opportunities for the industry. She views the passage of a new Farm Bill as essential for the continuity of critical market programs and safety nets for farmers. She also emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform to tackle labor shortages.
McBath’s journey from student to policy leader highlights the varied career paths available to those passionate about agriculture and underscores the essential role of informed voices in shaping the future of the dairy industry. As she advocates in Washington, she continues to draw on lessons learned at Cornell and her practical experiences on dairy farms and through internships.
She especially credits the Dairy Fellows program with equipping her with practical skills that have been pivotal to her career, such as problem-solving, critical thinking and building persuasive arguments. “The skills my classmates and I developed as Dairy Fellows have transferred well to all of us, no matter which career paths we chose after graduation,” she said.
Source : cornell.edu