Adam Bassett

As a kid, Adam Bassett dreamed of being a cowboy. His greatest joy to this day is being on the back of a horse guiding cattle across the solitary beauty of the Nebraska Sandhills. It’s a dream that may seem odd considering Adam grew up in the heart of Nebraska’s urban capitol and attended Lincoln East High School where he participated in track, cross country, swimming and trap shooting.

“I started having interest in the farm from as long as I can remember. I remember watching my grandfather milking cows and just being mesmerized,” Adam said. “The first time I rode a horse I was six or seven, but that was by myself. I was probably much younger when somebody first put me up there.”

Adam’s family has run their own farms for many years. One of those farms has been in his family since it was homesteaded in the 1800s. As he learned from his family the ins and outs of working a farm and tending to livestock, Adam’s love of the land and agriculture grew into a career goal of becoming a large animal veterinarian.

“Being a vet is one of those things I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” Adam said. “I’m passionate about the agriculture industry, and it’s really in need for large animal vets.”

Adam, a senior biology major, has been taking every advantage to ensure his success here at HC. He has been helping out and job shadowing at the Hastings Animal Clinic, where he has done everything from working with cattle to pregnancy checking sheep. He’s been extensively involved with calving and branding on The Cox Ranch near Mullen, Neb., and he has helped Biology Professor Dr. John Kuehn manage his horse and cattle operation.

“For me, a successful life would be to be able to look back and know I really did have a positive impact on agriculture,” Adam said. “Being able to have my own clinic would be a huge success for me.”

Adam is a member of the Tri Beta Biology Honorary, Beta Chi Fraternity, the Student Senate, Apartment Council, Pre-Health Club and Habitat for Humanity. He says one reason he chose Hastings College is the opportunity for so much one-on-one attention from professors, and the numerous opportunities to get involved on campus.

“This is a great place to come for people who are interested in agriculture,” Adam said. “Hastings is rural enough that you can still get that agricultural experience.”