(continued from previous page)
and excellent transportation system, and the role
U.S. agriculture plays in fostering that.”
As Texas residents, the McCrackens live in the heart
of big oil country. That doesn’t hinder her efforts to
promote ethanol, and her advocacy starts at home.
Although her family of four often travels
together, McCracken and her husband,
Michael, take a trip together each year.
“We try to pick a destination that is special,
a bit adventurous, and somewhere we’ve
never been before. Then we fill the trip with
fun activities.”
Their favorite destination? McCracken
could only narrow it to two … and wanted
to include a third: “The Galapagos Islands
for the wildlife. We swam with penguins,
iguanas, and sea turtles, saw sharks and tons
of different bird species, and met some very
friendly sea lions. The other was Greece. We
went island hopping there, enjoyed perfect
weather, and experienced so much culture
and such great, friendly people.”
“My family and friends all think I have a cool job,
and I get to share what I do and be a voice for the
importance of ethanol,” she noted. “My technical
knowledge of ethanol allows me to educate my
daughters, Courtney and Katelyn, as well as others,
on how it is safe and good for the environment. Our
transportation here in the U.S. is very affordable,
and that’s only because we’re able to maintain our
energy security … and ethanol is a part of that.
“It’s important that my kids have clean energy, a
clean environment, and energy security for their
lifetime,” McCracken concluded. “I want them to
have access to affordable energy and the same
benefits we enjoy.”
16
AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE