The other day I was having a discussion with my 15-year-old sister about her ag class, and we got on the subject of being an agvocate. She's a member of FFA and 4-H, and shows horses and pigs across the Midwest, so agriculture is a big part of her life. I've been out of high school for three years now, so I was curious as to what her thoughts were about being an advocate for the agriculture industry while in high school. Her response was the 5 tips found below, and honestly I was blown away by the maturity and wisdom she exhibited in her responses.
1. Don't be afraid to go against the grain- Ag kids are the minority in almost every high school, so being excited about agriculture is not always the "cool thing" to your peers. However, don't let how other people portray you stop you from pursuing your interests. You may not realize it right now, but being able to say you feed the world is a pretty cool thing!
2. Be an active and engaging listener-In high school, your daily news usually revolves around who's going with who to prom or who scored the most points in last night's game. As an agvocate it's important to keep up with what's being said about the industry on the news, in articles, or even from what your parents talk about with their friends. Also, if you aren't sure if something is the truth or not, ask a mentor.
3. Spread the word about agriculture whenever you can- If you wait to say something positive about the industry, someone else out there will say something negative first. It's easy to share a post on social media or have a conversation with a consumer about where their food comes from, but you have to be on the offense so people know the truth before the lies.
4. Never be ashamed to express your passion-No matter what it is that you dedicate your life to, don't be afraid to let everyone around you know how much you love something. It's your passion for a reason, so there's no excuse to hide it. Share your excitement and who knows? Your enthusiasm might just be contagious!
5. Get out of the classroom and experience the real world- High school curriculum is not always focused around agriculture, so it's important to pursue your interests in other venues. Attending FFA events, conferences, and other agriculture sponsored events can help you not only learn more about ag, but also helps you meet kids with the same interest as you. Missing one day of high school will not kill you, I promise!
I was very proud of my sister for having such wisdom on being an agvocate, and honestly I think these tips can be applied to non-high schoolers too. Either way, I hope her advice can help you better connect with your peers outside of the agriculture industry and help spread a positive image of food production in America!
1. Don't be afraid to go against the grain- Ag kids are the minority in almost every high school, so being excited about agriculture is not always the "cool thing" to your peers. However, don't let how other people portray you stop you from pursuing your interests. You may not realize it right now, but being able to say you feed the world is a pretty cool thing!
2. Be an active and engaging listener-In high school, your daily news usually revolves around who's going with who to prom or who scored the most points in last night's game. As an agvocate it's important to keep up with what's being said about the industry on the news, in articles, or even from what your parents talk about with their friends. Also, if you aren't sure if something is the truth or not, ask a mentor.
3. Spread the word about agriculture whenever you can- If you wait to say something positive about the industry, someone else out there will say something negative first. It's easy to share a post on social media or have a conversation with a consumer about where their food comes from, but you have to be on the offense so people know the truth before the lies.
4. Never be ashamed to express your passion-No matter what it is that you dedicate your life to, don't be afraid to let everyone around you know how much you love something. It's your passion for a reason, so there's no excuse to hide it. Share your excitement and who knows? Your enthusiasm might just be contagious!
5. Get out of the classroom and experience the real world- High school curriculum is not always focused around agriculture, so it's important to pursue your interests in other venues. Attending FFA events, conferences, and other agriculture sponsored events can help you not only learn more about ag, but also helps you meet kids with the same interest as you. Missing one day of high school will not kill you, I promise!
I was very proud of my sister for having such wisdom on being an agvocate, and honestly I think these tips can be applied to non-high schoolers too. Either way, I hope her advice can help you better connect with your peers outside of the agriculture industry and help spread a positive image of food production in America!