Kelsey Epps Email & Phone Number

Agriculture has always been a major part of my life, starting with working on my grandfather’s small hobby farm. We would grow produce for friends, family, and local churches every year and never charged them a dime. My passion for agriculture deepened during my freshman year of high school when I joined FFA (Future Farmers of America). This experience transformed agriculture from a hobby into a career ambition.FFA taught me the value of advocacy and the importance of agricultural education in schools. It also emphasized the strength of community. In a world that often feels divided, we all are still connected by the simple fact, “Everyone’s gotta eat,” said a professor from Virginia Tech, a line that has stuck with me three years later. No matter your wealth, your word, or your wear, when times get tough, a community will always come together to support each other.Farming requires resilience and perseverance, and these experiences have instilled in me a strong work ethic and commitment. While I may not have grown up on a large farm or won every competition, the values of hard work, community, and determination continue to shape my approach to life and career.

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  Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University