Also read: ABAC’s Success in Growing Ag Workforce
Graduates: Representing the class of 2021, left to right, Youry Gonzalez, Katibeth Mims, and John David Lee.
Katibeth Mims
Agricultural Communication
Growing up on her family farm in Donalsonville, Georgia, it came as no surprise that Katibeth Mims considered a career teaching agriculture. Active throughout high school in the National FFA she even served as president, following her father and grandfather’s footsteps.
“I wanted to be a teacher and work with FFA students,” says Mims, who graduated from Seminole High School. “FFA is more than just learning about farming. It’s about advancing a new generation of leaders and teaching about the agricultural industry.”
When she arrived at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), her career choice began to change. “I saw how many different careers there were,” she says. “I had heard a little bit about agriculture communication, and at the time, it was a relatively small program, but it’s starting to grow.”
Mims says she switched to agricultural communication to reach a broader audience. “It’s about letting consumers know where their food comes from and the importance of agriculture.”
In 2020, Mims was one of seven students selected as School of Agriculture and Natural Resource Leaders, based on grade point average, club and organization activity, and leadership skills.
As part of her experiential learning opportunities, Mims completed two internships, the first in the summer of 2019 with the Georgia Department of Agriculture Office of Communication.
“I mostly worked on graphic design for brochures and infographics,” she says. “I also gained some writing experience and had an article published in the Georgia Market Bulletin,” a newsletter produced by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
The article focused on federal disaster relief for Georgia farmers negatively impacted by Hurricane Michael. “This is a topic that is personal and very near and dear to my heart,” she says. “Hurricane Michael left lots of damage in my hometown of Donalsonville.”
Working for a state agency, Mims became aware of the government policy side of agriculture.
“When I think of ag communication, I now think about the different commodity groups, like the Georgia Peanut Commission,” where she completed a second internship in 2020. “The whole point of communication is about educating people, and that includes state and national legislators, as well as lobbyists.”
Thinking about her family’s farm, Mims says, “It’s about sharing the stories of our farmers; many of them are working late into the night and don’t have time to speak directly to legislators. They call and write letters but giving them a voice and sharing their stories so that policymakers understand the importance of farming and agriculture.”
Before completing her senior year at ABAC, Mims secured a full-time job with the Georgia Department of Agriculture in Tifton.
Youry Gonzalez
Agribusiness
A lot of high school students chart their career choice at an early age. Taking a cue from a parent or relative or an interest in a particular subject can often lead toward a professional interest.
For Youry Gonzalez, the idea of majoring in agribusiness came during his junior year at Claxton High School, where he was involved in the National FFA.
“It was through taking agriculture classes that I got involved with FFA,” he says. “
“I’ve been told I have a good speaking voice and thought about politics, business, maybe even law. It was from the influence of FFA and my advisor that I decided to major in agriculture.”
Encouraged by his FFA advisor, Bradley Hall, Gonzalez selected Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) because of its close proximity to home [his family now lives in Douglas, Georgia] and small class sizes.
“Mr. Hall went to ABAC,” Gonzalez says. “He is the main reason I am where I am today.”
While at ABAC, Gonzalez says he gained a greater appreciation for the agriculture industry and its economic importance.
In a class taught by Dr. Audrey Luke-Morgan, associate professor of Agribusiness, Gonzalez says he grasped the vital impact of agricultural production. “In her class, she taught us about the food belt. It was a visual representation of the food dollar,” he says. “In 2019, on average [U.S.] farmers receive 14.3 cents from every dollar, the rest goes to other costs.”
In the summer of 2020, Gonzalez completed his required internship at Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. in Douglas.
“It was a great opportunity, and I learned a lot about the company’s entire production process,” he says. “I had the chance to shadow a person that works with USDA inspections. It was an amazing process, and he had more than 20 years of experience.”
Gonzalez was also able to expand his analytical and problem-solving skills. “When I worked with the production process, we would open up an Excel spreadsheet and start doing the math. Looking at the process, we determined what was going on and how to make changes that would translate into profits.”
While at ABAC, Gonzalez helped start a chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Science (MANRRS). A national student organization, Gonzalez says the primary goal of MANRRS is to promote inclusion and diversity for students within agriculture and natural resources.
“Everyone is welcome and can benefit from what the club has to offer,” he says. “We have students who are not minority students or majoring in agriculture or natural resources.”
Gonzalez graduated from ABAC in spring 2021 and is employed full-time with Pilgrim’s Pride in Douglas.
John David Lee
Agribusiness
For John David Lee attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) was an easy choice—it was deciding on a major that took some time.
“ABAC was my first choice and the only school where I applied,” says Lee, from Jesup, Georgia. “At first, I didn’t have a clue what type of ag degree, but the business pathway seemed broad.”
After settling on an agribusiness degree, Lee’s interest in crop production increased. “After a couple of years, I realized I could add a few more classes and get a double-major,” he said. “With crop production, you are learning the foundation of agriculture and farming from soil to harvest and everything in-between.”
Lee completed his internship in the summer of 2020 as an agronomy sales and marketing intern with Helena Agri-Enterprises. A leading U.S. agronomic solution provider, Helena Agri-Enterprises, headquartered in Collierville, Tennessee, selected 62 interns, representing 35 universities and colleges, for its 2020 internship program.
Working out of the company’s Newton Grove, North Carolina office, Lee enhanced his crop production skills and gained valuable sales techniques.
“I’m very people-oriented, so I liked the selling aspect, and it’s something I would like to do more of in the future,” he said. “I was also able to scout some different crops like zucchini, tomatoes, and lots of cucumbers,” noting that Newton Grove is near Mt. Olive, North Carolina, home of Mt. Olive Pickle Company.
“I learned a lot from the internship and working in the fields,” he says. “It reinforced what I learned in the classroom. ABAC definitely prepares students to enter the workforce. I think it’s the hands-on experience that sets it apart from other schools.”
Lee says the internship also gave him an expanded appreciation of the agriculture industry. “The average person doesn’t fully understand the importance of agriculture. In rural America, there is a better understanding and appreciation and value of what a farmer goes through.”
While at ABAC, Lee was involved in several organizations, including Ducks Unlimited and the Agronomy Club. “The Agronomy Club brings in biweekly speakers tied to production agriculture, for example, crop scientists. Pre-COVID, we took yearly trips to large farms. In 2019, we went to Ohio and Michigan around the Great Lakes area.”
Lee graduated from ABAC in spring 2021 and is employed full-time for Helena Agri-Enterprises at its Cordele, Georgia office.
Photos by Landon Rowe, ABAC