Caroline Wild grew up in Brunswick, Maine, where her parents operated a custom remodeling company. In spite of not being raised on a farm, Wild had an innate interest in cattle, attending local county fairs and imagining herself owning her own herd. As a high school junior she joined a beef-focused 4-H club and raised a Belted Galloway steer during her last year of high school.
After one year of college in Massachusetts, she spent a year working for Wolfe’s Neck Farm, helping manage its beef herd, working with interns and assisting with haying. In fall 2014, Wild moved to Bozeman, Montana, to attend Montana State University (MSU) and earn a degree in Animal Science with a concentration in livestock management and industry.
Wild’s previous work has included being the DNA Director at the American Simmental Association, the Assistant Manager at Headwaters Livestock Auction, as well as working on several ranches throughout Montana.
When she turned her goals toward graduate school, Wild was excited to find the KRIRM program because of its emphasis on a systems approach to managing a ranch, and combination of classes in animal and range science, as well as business and management.