18. Inside Agency Life: Fast-Paced Lessons from Tanner Kersey-Lopez

In this episode of Club Cultivate, Whitney sits down with Tanner Kersey-Lopez, a California native and Oklahoma State University alum whose career path has taken him from the show ring to the world of agricultural public relations. Now an Account Supervisor at Bader Rutter, Tanner shares his journey through FFA, OSU’s ag-comm program, grad school during COVID, and into the fast-moving world of agency life—where collaboration, creativity, and communication meet. They dive into what “earned media” really means, how agency teams function behind the scenes, the balance between billable hours and creative flow, and how to build a career that aligns with both passion and purpose. Highlights: Why Tanner switched from animal science to ag comm—and never looked back What agency structure really looks like (and why specialization matters) How PR, social, and creative teams collaborate in big ag agencies The truth about time sheets, boundaries, and self-accountability Tips for young professionals on asking better questions, finding mentors, and taking risks Grace, growth, and the reminder that nothing is permanent