Ag Institute Student's Empowerment

If these students were more likely to inherit farms or ranches, and learned about agriculture in high school, what was the draw for an Associate’s education? How did the students feel empowered with a formal education? Did an education of new agricultural  methods give these students an advantage in their careers? Alternatively, did education empower students in a personal way? Think of these questions as your read the following quotes SALS collected from Ag Institute students for the 1973 Annual Report and the Alumni newsletter.[1]

A student in Farm Equipment Sales and Service: “He lives on a farm which his father rents. He visited our Open and FFA (Future Farmers of America) conventions, so he did not feel lost in so large a place when he arrived…He finds the students ‘a friendly group’ and has already recommended the program to a friend. He also claims that the instructors ‘bend over backwards to help.’”

An Agricultural Pest Control major from a small farm was empowered to advance beyond a small farm life, and employers recognized his potential. 

“His 4-H agent urged him to go on to college. He tried, but his scores were not high enough, so he entered the two-year program. He is taking a double major in livestock and pest control. He especially likes laboratory work as his high school had none…He doesn’t want to farm, but hopes to be in an agriculturally related business. In one job interview, the interviewer said he had more ‘basics’ than many 4-year students.”

The following quotes are from various students in the Ag Institute from the graduating classes from the 1960s through the 1980s. These students reported to the Ag Institute their careers since graduation. The selection of quotes from this newsletter shows the diversity of the student’s careers and that not all pursued agriculture. Those who did not pursue agriculture appeared content with their choices.[2]

George P. (1964) – self-employed farmer and president of Ashpole Equipment, Inc.

Ronald J. (1965)- Agricultural Research Technician for the Department of Plant Pathology at NCSU.

Francis N. (1967) – works for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Job is to call on buyers in the northeastern US and eastern Canada to see new opportunities for Virginia agriculture. 

Charles C. (1969)- an Agricultural Research Superintendent at NCSU’s Randleigh Field Laboratory.

John B. (1970) – has his own Pest Control Service.

John S. (1970) – owner of Spann Farms and Springbranch Farms in Sumter, SC. Raises corn, soybeans, small grains, hogs, and cows, hopes to add chickens. His son Wesley is a freshman in the Ag Institute.

Fredrick T. (1973) – Dean of Development for Wilkes Community College and also owns Townes Nursery and Landscape, Inc.

John S. (1977) – Livestock Inspector with the Veterinary Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, in Winston-Salem, NC.

Jackie W. (1978) – he is a District Manager with Purina Mills, Inc.

Pamela S. (1979) – she is co-owner of Reid Pig Farms, Inc. Her stepson Jake is student in the Ag Institute.

Craig S. (1979) – post graduation from Ag Institute he earned a BS Degree in Agricultural Education from NCSU in 1984. He is now a horticulture teacher and owns part-time farming operation in Fuquay-Varina, NC. 

Joel P. (1981) – president of Joel Parker Farms, Inc. where he has 500 acres of crops and livestock in Clinton, NC.

Steve T. (1981) – works as Parts Manager for White’s Herring Tractor and Truck Case – IH Division, live in Rocky Mount, NC.

Barry M. (1983) – family business where he manages the certified seed operation in Norwood, NC. He contract grows approximately 355,000 broilers for Perdue Farms.

Karen H. (1988) – homemaker and groundskeeper of our tiny but flourishing ¼ acre lot…children are “destined to be future landscapers and Ag majors!”