Next Gen Ag is a year long series that will run on our In The Field blog, Facebook page, Instagram page and Twitter account. Each Wednesday, we will highlight a young person pursuing a career in the agriculture industry. Individuals can be in high school, college, or recent graduates who are working to establish a career in agriculture. Stay tuned each week to meet some of our industry’s future leaders!
Agriculture is found everywhere across the world, from farms and markets to the N.C. State Fair and Disney World. Neva Grace Brescia from Cary grew up in a family that always appreciated agriculture and encouraged her to do the same. However, it wasn’t until she visited Disney World and became involved in FFA in high school that she truly fell in love with the industry. Today, she is a huge advocate for agriculture and can’t wait to leave her own mark on the industry throughout her future career.
Growing up in Cary, Neva Grace and her family weren’t surrounded by agriculture, but they had family members in Dunn and Benson that farmed a variety of crops, including sweet potatoes. “My grandparents had strong backgrounds in agriculture and would invite my family and I to come help out on the farm regularly,” Neva Grace said. “Some of my very first memories on the farm were helping them pick sweet potatoes and enjoying them together as a family.” Neva Grace and her family also have a tradition of attending the N.C. State Fair each year, where they are more interested in the agricultural exhibits than the rides. “We always milk the cows at the N.C. State University booth and learn all about their importance to the dairy industry,” she said. “We also walk through the Expo Center every year to see the giant pumpkins and other crops as well as the Graham Building to see all the livestock.” Although her parents educated her in agriculture at a young age, Neva Grace didn’t fall in love with the industry and choose to call it her home until her high school years when FFA and horticulture spoke to her heart.
Although Disney World is full of many exciting exhibits, character meet and greets, rides and more, the experience that Neva Grace remembers the most from her high school Disney trip was her ride on Living with the Land. For those who are unfamiliar, the Living with the Land is a boat ride through greenhouses and agricultural displays. The ride was created by horticulturalists at Disney and aims to teach people about the history of farming, growing techniques and high-yield crops found in the state. “I’ve always been fascinated with how plants grow and gardening is something that I have always done with my father so it means a lot to me,” Neva Grace said, “but this ride at Disney awoke something in me that I didn’t know was there. It sparked my passion for agriculture and really got me into hydroponics and aquaponics.” Directly following that trip, Neva Grace became involved with the FFA Chapter at her local high school, Athens Drive High School. She was involved with FFA from her freshman year to her senior year and served as an officer for three of those years. “My high school FFA chapter was really unique because it actually started my freshman year, so I was one of the very first people involved,” she said. “I loved being able to help build our FFA program through State Convention and other competition events. It taught me a lot about being a leader and how to leave an impact on the agriculture industry.” Her senior year of high school, Neva Grace was asked to build a large-scale hydroponics system for the school with grant money the school received that year. “I was honored to put this system together,” she said. “I hope that it is something that the school continues to use for many years to come to teach others about the importance of horticulture and agriculture.”
Neva Grace is currently a junior at N.C. State University where she is majoring in Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems with a concentration in Urban Horticulture. In addition to working towards her degree, Neva Grace spends many hours each week at the Horticulture Field Lab learning at the hands of industry experts. “I love working at the lab because it’s giving me hands-on experience in my field of interest,” she said. “I’m conducting research with a graduate student that not only gives me a chance to expand upon my education but also build a network with industry professionals that could last throughout my career.” Although she is still trying to figure out where exactly her career will take her, Neva Grace knows that she wants to be involved with the agriculture industry and act as a mediator between farmers and the public. “Unfortunately, there is still a huge education gap when it comes to the public understanding and appreciating agriculture in our state,” she said. “I want to help farmers bridge that gap and help the public understand that agriculture connects us all. It provides all the daily necessities that we need. It’s a huge driver for our economy, and something that deserves to be both appreciated and protected.” She is open to all possibilities and opportunities that will come her way but is keeping a close eye on N.C. State Extension as a job possibility for the future.
Neva Grace is also a member of the Young Farmers and Ranchers Chapter at N.C. State where she advocates for agriculture on a daily basis. This is her second year being involved with the chapter and next year she plans to run for chair where she can have an even larger impact. “It’s been fun to meet all different types of people and build an agricultural community through the Young Farmers and Ranchers Chapter,” she said. “I’m learning so much about the different facets of agriculture and how to showcase them to people across the state.” We are thankful for all these young people that continue to advocate for our industry and teach others about the importance of agriculture in North Carolina.
Coming from an urban community, Neva Grace brings a unique perspective to the table, which adds to the conversation of agriculture in our state. She also brings a strong passion for horticulture, an outgoing personality, and leadership skills to the industry. “I am excited for what the future holds in my agriculture career,” she said. “I think my education and experience have prepared me and I look forward to adding my own contributions to important agriculture projects and conversations.”
Although she loves many things about the agriculture industry, especially growing plants, Neva Grace’s favorite part of the industry is the people within it. “Everyone in the agriculture industry are passionate, comfortable, friendly, team oriented and willing to help one another,” she said. “It’s still the grassroots industry of our state and the people involved know that. They want to see each other succeed and are willing to go out of their way to make that happen. That’s not a sentiment you see expressed in many other industries.”
To anyone seeking a career in agriculture, Neva Grace encourages you to get involved, put your best foot forward, and look for ways to make a difference. “You don’t have to be a farmer or come from a farming background to have a place and make your mark in this industry,” she said. “There are so many different avenues in agriculture that you can walk down. Find out which one speaks to you and then chase after it! Put your best foot forward in everything that you do and allow your passion to drive you through both the good days and the hard days.” We are so proud of all that Neva Grace is doing to make her mark on the agriculture and horticulture industries. We look forward to seeing where the future takes her!
