Two-Time Bumpers College Grad Sarah Bramall Back In Ag Education as Instructor

Sarah Bramall, a two-time graduate with experience in multiple departments and a former county extension agent, is in her first semester as an instructor in U of A's Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Technology.

The department is part of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, where Bramall earned a bachelor's (2013) in agricultural education, communications and technology, and a master's (2015) degree in agricultural and extension education.

"I went to Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College on a livestock judging scholarship and was able to be on the state winning 4-H team and landed in the top 10 at the national contest in 2008," she says. "After earning my associate's degree, I transferred to the University of Arkansas and ended up getting my bachelor's degree (in AECT) with a concentration in agricultural education and a teaching certificate, and I earned minors in both agricultural communications and poultry science. I've always loved learning, so I headed into the master's program. I was able to do this on an assistantship under Dr. Jill Rucker. This stirred an even bigger passion in me for learning, but also for advocating for agriculture and educating others." 

Bramall spent the previous eight years (2017-25) as a program specialist in Bumpers College's Department of Poultry Science. She coordinated and disseminated educational and outreach objectives for multiple grants received by the department for military veteran farmers and beginning farmers, worked as the liaison between the USDA-ARS Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit and the U of A, and served as instructor for two poultry science courses.

"I was blessed to instruct two courses during my time in poultry science," Bramall says. "I helped Dr. Dan Donoghue develop the Sustainable Integrated Small Animal Farming course that I taught each spring as an eight-week course and Professionalism Seminar, a one-hour class taught in the fall. That was my favorite. I have such a passion for helping students develop resume and networking skills through mock interviews, confidence building, personality assessments and more to brand themselves and understand which internships, careers or higher education opportunities might be the fit for them."

Before that, she worked several months in 2017 as a county extension 4-H agent in Washington County. She worked with more than 500 youth ages 5-19 and their parents/guardians through camps, club meetings and leadership activities; implemented programs for community engagement and extension promotion; conducted weekly practices for competitive teams and attended weekly club meetings for 25 county clubs; created and disseminated a monthly newsletter, weekly e-mail reminders and program promotion pieces; and provided mentorship to student leadership committees and others.

In her new role, she is the instructor of the Applications of Microcomputers course, which is part of the agricultural systems and technology management curriculum. She also serves as the student recruiting coordinator for the department. She plans and executes student visits, departmental tours and other networking/student engagement activities.

"In August, I was hired into what I consider a dream role," Bramall says. "I am back in my 'home' department teaching students and bringing in new faces to our department. I get to go out and spread AECT cheer to high school and community college students. Every day I get to engage in conversations with eager students trying to learn a new skill or practicing for a job interview, and I can't think of anything better than being a small part of their big picture in preparing them for what's to come. At a young age, my parents instilled in me a love and drive to work hard and enjoy what I do. I like to think I've made it to that part of my life. The most important thing I can do is take my passion and try and ignite that same fire in someone else, and I know that's what I will have the opportunity to do in my current role."

While completing her master's degree, she worked as a graduate teaching and research assistant, serving as a teaching assistant for the Leadership Development in Agriculture and Graphic Design courses. Her research pertained to communication and leadership development.

Bramall, who is a Springdale native and grew up on a small cow/calf farm where her family also raised poultry for Tyson Foods, is also co-owner and operator of Wright's Farm Show Lambs, has served as a volunteer with Greenland FFA since 2017 and with the Washington County Fair since 2009.

She is a member of the Association of Leadership Educators and the International Leadership Association and has participated in the Arkansas Farm bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference, USDA-SEA Agreements Training, ARFB State Conference, Future Legacy Conference and more.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.