Jacob Harper

Q : Please tell me a little bit about yourself and where you're located.

Initially, my first desire to describe myself is not about me, but where I am from. My name is Jacob Harper and I am from Pelham, Georgia -- a small town in the heart of Southwest Georgia. My parents, grandparents, and great grandparents are all from Pelham -- so the roots run deep. However, I now mostly reside in Athens, Georgia, where I attend The University Of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences as well as the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. I am pursuing a degree in Agricultural Communication and Journalism. Aside from this, I enjoy spending time with others and traveling everywhere I am able. 

Q: How did you decide on your career path, and what training or education was required? 

From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be involved in a career in which I can help add value to the lives of others. I have always said that I am at my best whenever I am able to pour into others. With that, I plan on attending law school (preferably at The University of Georgia School of Law), and working towards getting my Juris Doctor. Working as a public defender has always piqued my interest, and I would love to explore that avenue within our legal system. Additionally, I would love to move into a journalistic and media space while fusing my undergraduate and postgraduate studies into my work. Ideally, my end goal is to work for NBC News in New York City, New York as a legal correspondent. 

Q: Who is someone who has been a mentor or had an influence on your life? 

Mr. Ben Lastly currently serves as the Georgia FFA Executive Secretary and has been one of the largest and most influential individuals in my life. Serving as a Georgia FFA State Officer was one of the most impactful experiences that I have been able to participate in thus far, and Mr. Lastly instilled core values into me that I have applied to my everyday life. He taught me the importance of being prepared, as well as the power of turning constructive criticism into a tool that can uplift yourself. 

Q: I'd love to hear more about your journey in agriculture! How did you get started, and what aspect are you involved in within the agricultural industry?

Agriculture has always had a place in my life. In many ways, it has provided a clear structure and path that I have followed. Throughout my elementary and middle school days, I grew up assisting my grandparents in the growing, harvesting, and selling of many crops on their farm. Basically, if it was a fruit or a vegetable, the likelihood of my grandparents growing it at some point or another was extremely high. Translating to high school, my Ag teachers Will Burt and Justin Sealy took note of my abilities to identify plants and taught me how to use them in practical situations such as Career Development Events. The influence of my former Ag teachers led me to pursuing office within The National FFA Organization, to now serving as an ambassador for The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences here at The University of Georgia. 

Q: To you, what is the importance of agriculture, and how do you see it progressing in the future?

Agriculture is all encompassing, and I believe that its importance lies within individuals that love the thrill that Agriculture brings. What I mean by this is whenever individuals find a spark in the industry through whatever avenue their heart desires, Agriculture, as an industry, has the opportunity to become more advanced through that individual's outlook and perspective. Glancing at the future, I believe that Agriculture will lie more in the hands of individuals who know how to effectively intertwine Agriculture and advancements in technology.

Q: How have you seen agriculture change through your years in the industry?

As a sophomore in college, I have not had many years of experience in the Agriculture industry, however, I have recently become aware that consumer perspectives on the food that they are consuming has shifted. Many individuals in today’s age are increasing their scrutiny in regards to the food that they are consuming. I believe this increase in awareness stems from social media and the way that we as consumers absorb our information. As we collect information online in regards to food, we start to want to increase our literacy in that respective area of our knowledge and health. 

Q: Could you please share one common misconception that people tend to have in your field of the agricultural industry and what your take on it is?

One large misconception that I notice frequently in the industry is that many individuals do not view Agriculture, and more specifically production Agriculture, as an occupation that requires a heightened intellectual capacity. As a rural student that attends UGA, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the amount of hard work, planning, deliberation, and calculations that farmers put into their work on a day to day basis. My viewpoint on this issue stems back to the issue of Agricultural Literacy, and that the way consumers absorb and inherit information is ever changing. As individuals in the industry, it is our job to educate and uplift others so false information cannot thrive.

Q: What fields in agriculture do you see growing in the future, and what are their job outlooks?

Fields relating to precision Agriculture will have an exponential increase in the coming years because of the way that production Agriculture operations are shifting with the times. As our world population grows, many farmers must adopt methods that allow them to produce more food in an easier way. Therefore, the technology that is being released will aid farmers in that mission as the technology becomes more accessible and readily available for consumer use. 

Q: Is there an area of agriculture that needs to be tackled and revived by the younger generations?

Agricultural literacy has always been an issue in our industry that I believe will worsen as time progresses. Due to the enhancement of social media, the internet, and other means of mass communication -- false information is becoming easier to spread online and from word of mouth. As Agriculturalists, I believe that it is our duty to fight any false information that arises in conversation. However, the responsibility also falls on us to keep ourselves educated to be able to share accurate information with others. 

Q: How do you plan to contribute and ensure the sustainability of agriculture?

Leading by example has always been one of my personal philosophies. Whenever you are considering this sentiment in a sustainability aspect, you have to understand that your actions affect others and the rest of society. Personally, I plan on ensuring the sustainability of Agriculture by helping educate the next generations of Agriculturalists. 

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to younger generations that are interested in pursuing agriculture, what would it be?

Expand your options to fit what you are interested in pursuing. Many people often underestimate the vastness of the Agricultural industry, and the opportunities that lie within. Truly, there is a space for everyone if they know where to look. Additionally, I would administer the advice to be open to change! While pursuing your interests, understand that the first thing you try may not be something that sticks, and knowing and understanding that will help you in the long run. Agriculture can be a fun time if you know where to look! 

Q: To wrap things up, I'd like to hear your thoughts on how to keep the agriculture industry thriving for years to come. How do we Keep Ag Alive?

I was extremely excited to be asked on this podcast for many reasons, however, the main reason is that I have the opportunity to share my Agricultural story with a young person who is deeply interested in the industry. Personally, this is the key to progressing and uplifting Agriculture. To protect Agriculture, we must instill in the minds of young people that Agriculture is something that shapes us all, and provides us with the very basics of life. At our very core, we need everything that Agriculture is, and everything that it will be. Catering to our younger generations will allow us to move forward in protecting the Agriculture industry.