Darrne Pinnegar

About Darrne

Why did you choose this program?

I had taken an Intro to Range class at my community college and wanted to pursue a career working with rancher and working landscapes. I saw Humboldt as my best choice for getting the degree I needed to prepare for that career, in a timely and affordable way.

How did this program prepare you for your job?

The Rangeland Resource Science program at Humboldt was a perfect preparation for working here at the soil survey. The Range and Botany coursework gave me a solid understanding of soil, plant, livestock interactions, and the soil coursework gave me a good understanding of soil processes and properties and how soil mapping works. The soil scientists I work with have always been impressed with the understanding of soil taxonomy and soil mapping concepts I picked up at Humboldt.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

The two things I enjoyed the most were the fieldtrips and participating with the Plant ID team that competes at SRM. These both created a sense of community with the other students and allowed us to see the things we discussed in class in action. These also have been very helpful in my career. Just this past week I went to Tucson, Arizona for a work project and was able to recognize a high percentage of the plants on the landscape because they are in North American Wildlife Plants.

What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?

The Rangeland Resource Science program at Humboldt was a great experience for me that prepared me for a career that I really enjoy. I encourage you to take advantage of the related extracurriculars, like the soil judging and Plant ID teams, because they will help prepare you for your career. I also encourage you to network and invest in relationships with your fellow students. Range is a small world and many of the people you will work with and for went through Humboldt.