When most people hear “AI,” they think of artificial intelligence — chatbots, autonomous vehicles, and smart devices. But for Olivia Braswell of Madison County, Georgia, AI means something entirely different — producing quality livestock.  

Thanks to a $5,000 grant from HireSmart Cares, a nonprofit supporting the next generation in developing crucial skills, Olivia is set to attend a 65-hour artificial insemination (AI) course in Senatobia, Mississippi, taking her passion for farming to the next level.

Olivia’s journey into agriculture started early. At just 19, she already owns eight Jersey cows, registered in her name, and dreams of expanding her herd to 20. Her days start early every morning with a milking session. She says the barn is her “happy place” where she can “talk to God and have fun and talk to the animals.” Her cows include Judy, Eloise, Lottie, Vera, Ada, Moose, and Meridith.

The young farmer’s entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t stop at raising cattle. Olivia has already established a soap-making business, Proverbs 31 Farmstead, using milk from her cows to produce handcrafted soaps. Clients of HireSmart Virtual Employees received her soap as gifts last year.

Olivia wants to open a farm store to sell her homegrown products, including honey from the bees she keeps.

“Pretty much my only dream is the dairy and a farm store where I can sell the products I make,” she said.

To turn this dream into reality, Olivia recognized the need to expand her knowledge and skills in cattle reproduction. That’s where the International Embryo Technology School in Senatobia, Mississippi, comes in. The 6.5-day course offers a comprehensive look at both artificial insemination and bovine embryo transfer, designed for beginners in cattle reproduction.

“I’ve been breeding my own cattle, and we spent a lot of money last year, and none of them were successful,” Olivia shares. “The whole process interested me, and I figured if I learned it, I can cut out the middleman for one, and I can start a business with it and learn more on that side.”

The course promises to be intensive, covering everything from estrous synchronization and palpating the cervix to embryo collection, grading, and transfer techniques. Students will have hands-on experience with live animals, learning to identify ovarian structures and place catheters. For Olivia, this knowledge is invaluable, especially considering the challenges she’s faced in breeding during hot Georgia summers.

“We kind of had our backs against the wall because we started in the summertime, and so the cow’s internal temperature is 101 to 103. You’ll kill an embryo if it’s hot outside and they run across the pasture,” she said.

This course will equip her with the skills to navigate such challenges more effectively. Olivia said the support from HireSmart “means a lot.”

Olivia’s enthusiasm for learning extends beyond her farming activities. She also teaches reading to kindergarten through second graders at Bridgeway Academy.

Olivia sees potential in helping others in Madison County and beyond in the cattle industry.

“I’ve already had a few of our neighbors who are interested in it, and so they said they’d hire me to do it,” she said.

Young farmers like Olivia face numerous challenges, but by investing in education and skill development, HireSmart Cares aims to ensure the future of agriculture remains bright and innovative.