Alumni Check-In: Liz Wilder

Liz Wilder graduated from the University of Idaho in December 2018 with a B.S. in agricultural science, communication, and leadership and a minor in agribusiness. Wilder has recently accepted a full-time position as Programs Director for the Idaho FFA Foundation. Before being appointed to this position, she worked for the Idaho FFA Foundation as an intern for three years during her undergraduate and continued with a part-time position as the Communications Director following graduation. Needless to say, Wilder has dedicated an exceptional amount of time and hard work to rise to her current position.

Growing up in Pullman, WA, Wilder was immersed in agriculture. She joined her local 4-H club and began raising and showing lambs in 4th grade, which led her to many learning opportunities about the sheep industry and raising livestock, such as working at her sheep leader’s farm. She continued to expand her understanding of the agricultural industry after joining the Pullman FFA chapter. Wilder enjoyed the leadership and travel opportunities that she experienced in FFA. She competed in as many CDE’s as she could and participated in every available event. “I fully immersed myself in all things FFA which led me to competing at the National Convention twice and serving the state of Washington as a State Officer,” Wilder says. 

While attending UI, Wilder’s favorite experience was serving as a CALS Ambassador. She states, “getting to meet and work with fellow students from across the college gave me a greater appreciation for the depth of the agricultural industry as well as introduced me to people I would not have met otherwise.” Wilder enjoyed traveling to various schools and events to share all of the opportunities that UI has to offer students. She also said that one of the best parts was meeting a prospective student in high school, then seeing them on campus the following fall. 

A “fun fact” about Wilder is that UI, herself and another student, Maggie Elliot, founded the “Ag Comm Squad,” which was originally directed by Jeremy Falk, Ph.D. Together, they started “The Hoot” and all of the departmental social media platforms. 

Currently, Wilder and her husband live in Caldwell, ID on the family ranch, where they co-own and operate Wilder Sheep Company with her husband's parents. The company has a flock of 90 head Suffolk and Club Lamb sheep that provides seedstock rams to 6,000 head range outfits and fair lambs for local 4-H and FFA members. Wilder and her husband also created a retail branch of Wilder Sheep Company this year, called Boise River Lamb. This branch sells high quality lamb products directly to consumers and restaurants across the Boise Valley. 

Wilder is also an entrepreneur. In September 2018, she started her own communications and marketing consulting business, Wilder Communications LLC. “In this business, I take on various contracts for an array of clients looking to enhance their communications and marketing strategy, strengthen their branding, and establish a better presence on various digital and print medias,” Wilder explains. She heads and executes many regional and national media campaigns, along with implementing full marketing strategies for various clients. All of her clients are involved in the agricultural industry. 

Written by Lynnsey Tracy

Fall 2020