My 'Why'

I began high school with no idea who I wanted to be. Growing up with separated parents I was constantly moving and struggled to find my purpose. A lot of the time I was so focused on getting through a day that I rarely thought of getting through a lifetime. When I walked into the agriscience classroom as a sophomore in high school, I was too shy and too guarded to make any progress in the way of finding my purpose. Little did I know, that classroom would change my life.

By participating in agricultural education at Elizabethtown Area High School I learned that agriculture is not just about food production, but also research and science and engineering, marketing and medicine and investments. Beyond that, agriculture is about hard work, fellowship, discomfort, and joy. Just as I want society to understand how each of our lives are made better by the food, fiber, and fuel produced out of our industry, I also wish that we understood in how many ways it does so. Agriculture is vast, ever-changing, and innovative. Everyday agriculturists work diligently to not just to feed our world, but also to clothe it, shelter it, provide it with medicine and comfort. We innovate to solve challenges and meet consumer demand. We overcome barriers in communication to pass on research and knowledge. There is a lot to understand and appreciate about our industry. What I wish people understood about agriculture is how intertwined it is, how vital it is, to everyone, especially those individuals who do not work in the industry.

Not only did I fall in love with the vast, relevant, and ever-changing industry that is agriculture, but I was also given the opportunity to become involved with the National FFA Organization. As an FFA member I was inspired and challenged by my agricultural educators to overcome many fears; fear of failure, fear of public speaking, and fear of the future. 

After I graduated and was elected to serve as the State Secretary for the Pennsylvania FFA Association, I experienced my defining moment for deciding to pursue a career in agriculture. I was on stage in the Bryce Jordan Center, coming off of a year of serving agriculture students across the Commonwealth. Looking out on a sea of students in the audience, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of love and purpose. Learning from and with those students throughout the year helped me to decide that I had two passions in life, agriculture and education. 

That is why I want to become an agricultural educator after I graduate. Through agricultural education I will have a chance to share with my students the importance of agriculture in all of our lives. By working with students to grow confidence, strong work ethics, and real world experiences, I hope to help people understand agriculture in a way that positively influences the industry. I would love nothing more than to continue to share my passion with students and help them to find their own passions. Most of all, I want to help them overcome their fears, just as my agricultural educators did for me, so that they may become knowledgeable stewards, informed consumers, and leaders in the industry that gave me the purpose I had been searching my whole life.

'Taylor'ed with love,