The Interview – Stephanie Butcher
Briefly describe yourself and what you do.
I’m a Christian, dairy farm wife, mom, and county extension coordinator. I thoroughly enjoy coordinating agriculture and natural resources programming and teaching the community about the importance of agriculture because every day, three times a day, we need farmers! When I’m not working at the Extension office, you will find me trying desperately to keep my home straightened up (which is nearly impossible with toddlers), helping at the farm or traveling.
Best piece of business advice you’ve received.
Find a way to make a living doing what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life. I wouldn’t say that’s 100% true because I can definitely say that there have been days when I’ve come home feeling completely exhausted. Even when you love what you do every day, there are still days when you put in a hard day’s work, but my dad always told me that I could accomplish anything I wanted as long as I worked hard enough for it, and I’ve always found that to be true. It’s not about how badly you want something. It’s about how hard you work for it.
If I had it to do over …
I would worry less and pray more.
You are going on an extended solo trip. What three albums and three books would you take?
Albums: 1. The Road Less Traveled (George Strait) 2. Set This Circus Down (Tim McGraw) 3. Part II (Brad Paisley)
Books: 1. The Bible, 2. Shane and Slade’s Baby Book since I am still working on it; 3. The Georgia Pest Management Handbook since I would probably get a call from work at some point.
Tell us one thing about yourself that few people know
I love to make quilts (when I can squeeze in the time to work on them).
You are hosting a dinner party for six. What five people, living or dead, would you invite and why
My husband, Kirk, because I couldn’t host a dinner party without him!
John Wayne because I would have loved to have met him.
Reba McEntire because she has always been someone I’ve admired and I wanted be a professional country singer when I was a kid.
My maternal grandmother, Mawmaw, I never got to tell her goodbye, and I would love talk with her just one more time.
My husband’s mother, Jane. I never had a chance to meet her since she passed away in a car accident 27 years ago.
Name an as yet unfulfilled dream
A trip to Hawaii
If you weren’t doing what you are, you would be …
I can’t imagine doing anything else. I feel that I am right where I am supposed to be, but when I retire one day I want to travel the United States.
Your go-to food.
I have a big sweet tooth, so I would say my “go to” food is dessert.
Favorite movies(s)
Thunder Road (1958) with Robert Mitchum
The Bridges at Toko Ri (1954) with William Holden and Grace Kelly
Dogs or cats?
Dogs
Your favorite quote and why
“Strive for perfection to achieve excellence.” It motivates me and reminds me that perfection is unattainable but excellence is!
Name something that you are extremely glad you did or accomplished
Earned my degrees from UGA. It was the most difficult thing I have ever done but I was the first in my family to earn a college degree and it meant a lot to my family.
What advice would you give your younger self just starting out on their own
Don’t worry so much. Things usually work out if you just let them.
