Elana Bruns

Elana Bruns’s life in agriculture began on a small family farm in central Illinois, where she grew up with her parents, siblings, and golden retriever, Snowflake. Some of her fondest memories include playing in the combine during harvest time and helping fill up the planter with seed (jumping on the bags). Elana was also actively involved in both 4-H and FFA, where she spent many hours studying, competing, and developing leadership skills. These childhood experiences fueled her appreciation for agriculture.  

Her fondness for the agricultural community led Elana to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she recently earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Agricultural and Consumer Economics. While earning her degree, she found a passion for food systems, focusing on food waste and insecurity. Her research projects examined how economic challenges impact eating habits and how innovative technologies could reduce waste around the world. In pursuit of these interests, she will start a Non-Thesis Master of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the university, specializing in Food and Agribusiness. After graduation, she hopes to continue a career in food marketing and outreach, working on creating a more sustainable and accessible food system.  

Elana joined the Science for Success team in the summer of 2026 as an Outreach Assistant, where she is creating new social media content and managing our digital analytics. She is excited to support the team in delivering important research and information to farmers and agricultural professionals across the country. She is ready to learn, grow, and implement her ideas to help create accessible resources.  

In her personal life, Elana loves being with her friends, family, and pets, especially her chicken, Chickpea. She loves being active, spending time outdoors, and watching hockey games! She also enjoys crafting and making jewelry for her small business. Currently, Elana is assisting her younger brother in his first year of 4-H, and she is happy to be helping the next generation get started in agriculture.