TJ Virgil Revives Her Family’s Agricultural Legacy

As a first-generation student, she is paving the way for her family's future, demonstrating that it’s never too late to pursue higher education. 

TJ’s vision is to revive her family’s agrarian roots by creating a bison ranch. Her passion for agriculture is deeply ingrained, stemming from her grandfather’s farming in Southern Colorado. “I grew up on that cornfield,” TJ reminisced. “That was my first real connection to agriculture. When he passed away, that part of our family’s life faded, but I’ve always felt called back to it.”

“I want to bring my kids back to the land,” she said. “Bison are incredible animals, regenerative, high in nutrition and essential to our ecosystem. I want them to grow up knowing the value of caring for the land and feeding their community.”

Her desire to reconnect with her Native American heritage and the land grew stronger as she reflected on her roots. “Without growing up on a reservation or having a tribal card, it was hard to know where to start,” she said. “Going back to school for agricultural business gave me the knowledge to start from the ground up.”

Building Confidence and Community at Aims

TJ is taking agricultural business classes at Aims and taking steady steps toward her next chapter. She has been accepted to Colorado State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Livestock Business Management. This is a new degree program that launched in 2023. TJ learned about it when attending an Aims Transfer Services event. She hopes to start taking classes at CSU in the summer of 2026. 

After earning a nursing degree 25 years ago, TJ decided it was finally time to return to college. 

“I always knew I wanted to go back to school. I was just waiting for the right time. After some pretty heavy stuff in my life, it was definitely the right time to come back.”

This time in school, TJ would follow her lifelong interest in agriculture. She chose Aims because of its strong reputation in Weld County’s farming community and its affordability. “Everyone I talked to who works in ag said they started at Aims,” she said. “That told me this was the right place to begin.”

At first, TJ wasn’t sure how returning to school as an older student would go. “I was nervous,” she admitted. “Most of my classmates are in their teens or twenties. But they’ve treated me like an equal from day one. It’s been amazing to connect with them as peers and friends.” 

In her agricultural classes, something finally clicked into place. This includes animal science, agricultural economics, agricultural finance and marketing. These weren’t abstract subjects, but things she could put into practice.“They’re all little pieces to building my business plan,” she said. 

This fall, she is taking a farm and ranch management class that she has been preparing for. TJ believes that the class “isn't about theory; it’s the brass tacks for the blueprint of my ranch.” The course covers real-world financial forecasting and operational planning, “the kind of hard data that ensures a sustainable, multi-generational operation,” she said. “My bison ranch is a commitment to the land and my children's future and that requires a business plan that’s as resilient and enduring as the bison themselves. That class is helping me nail down the ethical, profitable and culturally significant structure that's non-negotiable for my family's legacy."

Through Aims, TJ joined the Aims Agriculture Club, where she has built connections with local producers, visited working farms and ranches and discovered her confidence as a student. “It’s really brought life into my life,” she said. “Aims helped me believe in myself again. I’ve been getting straight A’s and setting higher expectations than I ever have.”

One of her favorite agriculture professors is Amy McFarland. TJ sees McFarland as a connector and a catalyst, “It’s all kind of interconnected with her. She groups in the right people when she’s sending emails, connecting current students with former students or people in the industry.”

Tech Meets Tradition

TJ’s recent classroom success and her connection with McFarland led her to a unique job opportunity with Figured, a farm and ranch management software company that helps agricultural producers and their accountants plan for the future. She works part-time as a Sales Development Representative. Figured was looking for agriculture students to work with them. TJ “jumped” at the opportunity. “Without that connection, I never would’ve found the job.”

Working part-time from Figured’s Denver office, TJ helps bridge the gap between farmers and accountants. The software enables users to forecast financial outcomes from market fluctuations to herd growth, helping agricultural businesses remain resilient in an unpredictable industry.

“Most farmers don’t think like accountants and most accountants don’t think like farmers,” TJ said. “I get to help them communicate better so everyone succeeds. It’s about helping farmers thrive. That’s what matters most.”

Her work with Figured has given her a front-row seat to the business realities of modern agriculture, reinforcing just how vital strong communication and solid planning are to a successful operation. That experience is shaping the next steps in her education just as much as her long-term dreams are.

For TJ, Aims is a foundation for her future. 

“Aims gave me the tools, the confidence and the connections to chase a dream that’s been in my heart for a long time. It’s never too late to start again.”