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2014 North Carolina Association of County Agricultural
Agents Association (NCACAA) Youth Scholarship Award Winners
Submitted By: Tiffanee Conrad, NCACAA Youth Scholarship Committee Chair
The North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents Association proudly announces Hannah Earle, Kristin Neill, and Jacob Pless as the 2014 youth scholarship award winners. The scholarship award is being presented to 3 most deserving students who have exhibited excellence in leadership and community service. North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents established this $1000 scholarship to three member or life members’ children or grandchildren to aid them with tuition at any University of their choice.
Hannah Earle is the daughter of Walter and Roslyn Earle from Wilson County. Hannah will be studying Agriculture Education with an animal science concentration at North Carolina State University in the fall. Hannah said that she is planning on becoming an Agriculture Teacher at the high school level because Agriculture is something that is very close to her heart. Many of her family members have been Ag teachers, but she is planning to keep Cooperative Extension as an option. She worked as a 4-H program assistant last summer and is planning to work there again this summer. She chose Agriculture Education because she loves seeing students change and learn something new. She also loves marine life and hopes to spend the spring semester after graduation working for a shark conservancy, before beginning her teaching career. Hannah loves to gain new experiences and believes that everyone should learn to be diverse and have open minds. That is the sort of thinking she hopes to instill in her future students to help them find their passion in life, just as she has found hers. When asked how her Extension Agent father, Walter Earle has impacted her life, she says, “My father has impacted my life in many ways I cannot express. He has always made me strive to be the best that I can be and taught me how to be a better person. I would not be where I am today if it was not for my father. One of the most important lessons he has taught me is how to stand up for myself and the things I believe in. I would not have a love for agriculture and animal science if it was not for him. He has taught me more about livestock than I will ever learn in a classroom and has instilled in me a sense of pride for agriculture. The biggest goal that I hope to attain is to positively affect as many people’s lives as my father has.”
Kristin Neill is the daughter of Karen and Robert Lee Neill from Guilford County. She is studying Plant Biology and Horticulture Science at North Carolina State University. She aspires to work in a research genetics department to create beautiful new plants, which are more resistant to diseases and easier to grow. She has started doing research with her professor on breeding and genetics of woody ornamentals, specifically on inheritance of plant architecture, leaf color, and variegation of redbud trees. They are working on the development of drought tolerant cultivars. She has also started doing research with sweet potatoes. She has recently expanded her focus to include biotechnology, specifically the genetic enhancement of plants. Last summer, Kristin worked an internship at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens to learn about the various plants in the region, landscape design, plant propagation, and the aspects of running a botanical garden. This summer, she will go back to delve deeper into plant identification of the region and work more with propagation. She plans to work in the research genetics department of the United States National Arboretum in Washington D.C. next summer. When asked how her Agent mother, Karen Neill has impacted her life, she says, “My interest in Agriculture stems from my mother’s influence. She has proven to be a great mentor and supporter. Most summers I attended the National Agricultural Agents Conferences with her and participated in diverse tours. Through this I was exposed to a multitude of people and many types of agriculture. This provided me with a good foundation in horticulture. My mother has been an inspiration for me as I watched her tackle new and emerging issues, like local foods and community gardening. I have been working with her to establish community gardens in underserved areas of the county. Additionally, my work with school gardens and children has further peaked my interest in working with plants. It has been wonderful to have my mother’s knowledge about horticulture and plants. She is helping me to create a network of resources for the future. I have my mom to thank for the direction that my life is headed.”
Jacob Pless is the son of Joyce and Carl Pless Jr. from Cabarrus County. He will study at Rowan Cabarrus Community College and then transfer to North Carolina State University in Animal Science. He says that Agriculture is his heritage and he has a primary interest in dairy production. He is in the eighth generation of his family to farmland that was obtained as a grant from King George II in 1762. In a society in which only a few young people choose farming as a career, Jacob wants to learn how to take care of soil, plants, and animals to provide food for an increasingly hungry world. He realizes that starting a dairy requires a lot of capital, so he wants to obtain the most education for his money by completing basic education courses at the relatively lower cost community college before attending NCSU with the goal of minimal debt. He plans to save money in his first two years of college by growing 1000 layer pullets for local farmers to use in their pastured egg operation. When asked how his Agent father, Carl Pless has impacted his life, he says, “My dad taught me to always try to do what is right, even if it did not seem like the easiest thing to do or if others were not doing the right thing. He told me that if I did not know what was best then I should ask him or my mother for advice. He also advised me to choose friends who would help me to be a better person and who would help me to reach my potential. He also advised that I should also help my friends to do the same by setting a good example. He taught me how to set goals and how to work. He taught me the importance of taking care of soil life quality nutrition for animals. Those that are fed nutrient dense feed are healthier and more productive leading to more profitable agriculture.”
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