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!
Passion and dedication are huge drivers in the agriculture industry, and Calyn Taylor has had both from the time she was five years old. From farming and livestock shows to FFA and agriculture classes, Calyn has spent many years building her agriculture experience and leadership skills. Today, she has her sights set on a career that will impact the industry for the better.
Growing up in Snow Hill, Calyn was raised by her grandparents on a livestock farm. Home to cattle, show pigs and chickens, the family farm was not only a place where hard work was accomplished, but where love and a passion for agriculture were fostered. “My family has farmed cattle for years, but when I was five years old, my grandpa purchased a new herd and I fell in love the moment that I saw the cows,” she said. “We have about forty head of cattle today, in addition to show pigs and chickens. Since I was five years old, I’ve always been involved on the farm and loved every minute of it.” With a passion for agriculture that long preceded high school, Calyn became involved in FFA as soon as she reached freshman year at Greene Central High School.
Joining FFA is one of Calyn’s life decisions that she looks on with joy and pride. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without the FFA and the involvement it gave me in livestock shows and other competitions,” she said. “I learned a lot of life skills, including time management, through the program and gained a lot of experience across the industry through opportunities presented to me.” Calyn was an FFA officer for three years of high school and FFA President both her Junior and Senior year. She participated in livestock showing, livestock judging and poultry judging during her high school years as well. In fact, she has shown cattle and pigs at a variety of shows across the state, including the N.C. State Fair. “I love showing both animals, but pigs are by far my favorite in the ring,” she said. “I got a lot of good experience through raising the animals, showing the animals and, eventually, selling the animals that have prepared me for a life in agriculture.” Through her agriculture classes, involvement with FFA, and livestock shows, Calyn developed a passion for agriculture that runs deep within her soul and drives her to get up each day to work hard towards a future that will impact our state’s number one industry.
As a freshman at Lenoir Community College, Calyn is studying Agriculture Education and working towards an associate degree in science. After completing her two-year degree, she plans to transfer to the University of Mount Olive or N.C. State University to obtain her bachelor’s degree in agriculture education. “Agriculture is our livelihood, and it accounts for one fifth of the job force in our state,” she said. “It provides a lot of the blessings that we take for granted each day, so it is my goal to help educate people on its importance. The world would be a better place if we all appreciated farmers and agriculture as we should.” After college, Calyn plans to start her own agritourism farm raising livestock, growing produce and plants, and offering events to the community that bring them to the farm. “I want to be an ag educator at my farm,” she said. “I want to give people a reason to come out to the farm and learn about agriculture, touch the animals for themselves, purchase homegrown products, and more.” In addition to providing agritourism activities and farm tours, Calyn also wants to offer camps for kids that teach them how to show livestock. “I want to provide livestock opportunities that I didn’t have growing up,” she said. “As long as I am helping to grow the future of agriculture with the work that I do each day, I will be happy.”
Calyn’s passion for agriculture, determination, leadership skills, livestock experience, and ability to educate others are all skillsets that she brings to the industry table. “Agriculture is why I wake up every morning,” she said. “It’s what gets me out of bed and fills my life with meaning, purpose and joy. I will work hard every day, no matter what I am doing in the industry, to further the impact that agriculture has on our state and the world.”
Although she loves many aspects of the agriculture industry, Calyn’s favorite parts are the people and the opportunity to educate others. “I love to watch everything come full circle in the agriculture industry. Everyone is so willing to help one another. I can enter a room full of farmers or industry leaders and learn a plethora of new things about the industry,” she said. “Then, I can turn around and teach those things to someone else. It brings me so much pride and joy to see the lightbulb go off when I teach people something new about agriculture. I think about those moments often, and they drive me to get up and do it again day after day.”
For anyone considering a career in the agriculture industry, Calyn advises you to just go for it. “Take every opportunity that comes your way because sometimes amazing things come from risks,” she said. “If you have a passion for agriculture, then the Lord will put you in agriculture. Trust in that and chase after the dream as hard as you can. There is a place for you in this industry.” We are so proud of all that Calyn is doing to further the N.C. Agriculture message in our state and look forward to seeing where the future takes her!
