Celebrity Spotlight - Temple Grandin

My favorite college course was Animal Issues and Welfare. There were a number of memorable experiences in the class, and meeting Dr. Temple Grandin was certainly one of them.

I can remember sitting on the edge of my seat listening to every word. We listened as she described her challenges with autism, highlighted her philosophies on animal behavior and handling, and encouraged us as we analyzed some of the agricultural industry's biggest challenges.

Grandin is focus of my Celebrity Spotlight feature, but she certainly wasn't a celebrity in 2003. In the last year, her international status has skyrocketed after being the focus of an HBO biopic"Temple Grandin," which has been nominated for 15 Emmys and goes on sale August 17. She was also named one of The 2010 Times 100 by Time's Magazine.

She has revolutionized the way livestock are cared for and managed. Grandin has developed livestock handling equipment and offered countless lectures on how human's can positively influence animal behavior. I could write about her achievements for pages, but I'll simply encourage you to visit her website to learn about her amazing story or visit a few of the quick links below.

• BBC - The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow
• ABC News PrimeTime - Can Autism Help Explain Animal Behavior?
• NPR - The Best Life For Animals

Coming from a farm and ranch family, it's a huge victory for us to have one of our biggest supporters on some the nation's biggest stages. Read up on her life, watch the HBO biopic and share her story with others. It's worth your time. Grandin's life encompasses the progressive nature of today's livestock industry. Also, if you enjoy reading books, a number of my friends have recommended reading Animals in Translation.