Fae Egli is balancing her passion for environmentalism and hobby farming with her pursuit of a degree in the Medical Laboratory Technician program.

Fae’s love for science began at Evansville High School, where she took nearly every available science course. Originally, she planned to attend a four-year college to study genetics, but she decided to stay close to home to grow her hobby farm. After working as a phlebotomist at a local hospital, she discovered a new path: Medical Laboratory Technology. The career allowed her to combine her love of science with a meaningful way to help others.

The inspiration for her hobby farm all started with an 18-year-old Mustang horse named Bronco. 

“I bought Bronco for $200, rescuing him from a rough situation. When I was 19, I started expanding the farm to chickens, ducks and sheep. I was working two jobs just to feed and build the farm,” she said. “Bronco passed away shortly after moving to the farm in 2018. He was 26 years old. I owe everything I’ve accomplished to him. He taught me how to be responsible and have self-discipline.”

Managing her growing farm—now home to goats, sheep, chickens, and rare waterfowl—while attending college full-time has been demanding, but Blackhawk’s flexible course options have helped Fae balance her responsibilities and succeed in both areas.

“Without Blackhawk’s flexibility, attending college would be nearly impossible. I work full-time, care for animals, and run a business. The college’s setup allows me to stay motivated and on track with my studies,” Fae said. 

Since first bringing Bronco home, Fae’s farm has expanded significantly, now supplying local families with fresh eggs, meat, and goat milk products like soap and lotions. She is also broadening her farm's offerings by launching a beekeeping operation to produce honey and beeswax—skills she developed through a beekeeping class at Blackhawk.

Fae said that the addition of these offerings came naturally to her. 

“Since I was a little girl, I always tried making things from nothing. I’d paint rocks, try building tables from tree branches and potions from mud. I find living sustainably very satisfying. The fact that I can go out, milk my goats and turn that into usable products like soaps and lotions gives me a lot of joy.”

Despite her busy schedule, Fae maintains a 3.8 GPA and plans to graduate in August 2025. After graduation, she intends to continue working at a local hospital as a Medical Laboratory Technician while still managing her farm.

Balancing work, school, and farm life requires careful time management, but Fae has developed strategies to keep everything on track. She emphasizes the importance of staying organized and setting realistic goals, often using lists to break down larger tasks into manageable steps.

Fae encourages prospective students who have put college on hold due to busy schedules to take the leap. 

“Go for it! Blackhawk is always willing to work with you and help determine what will work best for your life,” she said.

Visit blackhawk.edu/labtech for information on our Medical Laboratory Technician program.