Sierra Strenge, ’25 BS, isn’t your typical agriculture student. She grew up in town in Wyndmere, North Dakota, with dogs, a cat, and a leopard gecko, not on a farm with horses and cattle.

Her Future Farmers of America instructor, University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) graduate Desi Severance, ’10 BS, was the person who got her thinking about careers in agriculture—and about attending UMC. As a high school student, Strenge toured the campus and took part in UMC’s Animal Science Exploration Day, where she participated in hands-on activities.

Strenge started out at UMC majoring in animal science but switched to biology when she realized she enjoyed the research side of animal science. She’s now applying to graduate school, where she hopes to study animal health. The daughter of two teachers, Strenge eventually wants to teach at the university level.

Research meets teaching

Strenge has been cultivating her interests in research and teaching since she arrived in Crookston. Last year, she joined a freshwater sponge research project, which took her to different waterways to study sponge growth.

She was part of a team of researchers at UMC who are studying freshwater sponges to identify new species, better understand their habitat, and learn what they can tell us about water quality.

“Sponges have a silica-based skeletal system. I was looking at the amount of silica in the water to see if it has any influence [on growth],” she says.

Some of her most rewarding work has been with UMC’s Center for Rural Education in Science and Technology (CREST), which brings STEM-related activities to K-12 students. Strenge has led a number of labs and activities on topics such as leaf chromatography, DNA extraction from fruit, and lab techniques she uses in class and in her sponge research.

She says her involvement with CREST made her realize she wants to teach. “The work is so fulfilling.”

A recipient of the Cleon and Jeri Melsa Family Scholarship and others, Strenge says without such support she wouldn’t have been able to do research, teach, participate in the Pre-Vet Club, volunteer at the Scruffy Tails Humane Society, and play percussion in the band.

“Because of scholarships, I have been able to get really involved in campus and with the community,” she says.

Support students like Sierra Strenge at the University of Minnesota Crookston.