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 present in every part of our state, from the rural areas with lots of open farmland to the urban areas. Carson Park has spent most of her life in urban areas, including New York and Raleigh, yet developed a passion for agriculture and how it speaks to people all over the world. In fact, she is currently planning to not only make an impact on the industry through her future career, but also expand the reach of agriculture even further.
From the time she was born until she was seven years old, Carson and her family lived in New York, where she learned a lot about the dairy industry and its importance to our state. “Many people are unaware that New York is big in the dairy industry, but that is where I was first exposed to agriculture,” she said. “I remember learning where all the ice cream spots were in our community and attending the Dairy Day Celebration where I participated in many fun activities, including cow crafts and milking.” Moving from New York to North Carolina broadened Carson’s perspective on agriculture as she began to learn about row crops and produce farming. Both sets of grandparents worked on farms, so Carson was also able to see many aspects of the industry first-hand. “Both of my parents grew up on the farm, either raising livestock or plants, so I was blessed to have the same experience that they did when we visited the farms each year,” she said. “Although it was not a traditional upbringing on the farm, my unique experience with agriculture at a young age still sparked a passion in me that has led me to where I am today.”
Carson’s parents were both involved with FFA in high school, and they instilled that same desire in their daughter. All four years that she attended Garner Magnet High School, Carson participated in FFA. In fact, she served as a chapter officer every year, even regional and state officer in her later years. “Taking my first agriculture class in high school, which was horticulture, and getting involved with FFA launched my passion for agriculture to the next level,” she said. “I not only gained classroom education, but also leadership skills, industry connections, and the opportunity to compete in a variety of agriculture competitions.” Carson’s favorite competition to be a part of each year was the Nursery Landscape Competition, in which she excelled. She also discovered a new passion during her time in FFA for beekeeping. “My SAE Project, or Supervised Agricultural Experience, was in beekeeping and I never realized my passion for bees until that moment,” she said. “I always had a love for horticulture and plants, but throughout this project I came to learn just how important our pollinators are. That instilled a desire in me to be a part of the change and help protect them in the years to come.” Before she graduated last May, Carson even had the experience of shadowing a staff member at Duke Botanical Garden, where she learned about a variety of native plants in our state that can help sustain pollinators and how to care for them.
In mid-August, Carson started her first year at N.C. State University where she is majoring in Horticulture with a concentration in Landscape Design. “I am excited to expand my education and, hopefully, get some hands-on experience in the industry before starting my career,” she said. Although she isn’t 100% certain where the future will take her, Carson has her sights set on either the research industry or the education industry. “My future goal is to help sustain native bees and pollinators through horticulture practices and methods,” she said. “We have so many incredible plants in our state that contribute to the population of our native bees, like carpenter bees and bumblebees, as well as other pollinators. These pollinators are the ones doing all the grunt work and pollinating the foods and plants across the agriculture industry. I want to spend my career ensuring that we can not only sustain their population but care for them and provide an atmosphere for them to flourish.” Her dream job would be to either work for a research company or contract with agribusinesses to create and conserve habitats for native bees and pollinators.
Along with her unique experience and upbringing in the agriculture industry, Carson brings strong communication skills, a desire for learning and a passion for education to her future career. Not only does she want to see the agriculture industry, specifically the horticulture industry, flourish and thrive, but she wants to see more people become involved. “No matter where your interests lie, there is a place for you in agriculture,” she said. “The passion and dedication that is found in this industry is unmatched. We all work towards a common goal and have a sense of purpose that drives our work every day. I want more people to discover that sense of fulfillment and join the ag industry.”
Although she loves educating others on plants and pollinators, Carson’s favorite part of the industry is the people found within it. “Everyone in this industry is willing to extend a hand and help one another because we all want the same things,” she said. “It’s not a competition, it’s a team. We lean on one another and learn from each other. It’s a beautiful partnership that isn’t found in a lot of other industries.” For this reason, Carson is working hard to establish as many connections across the industry as she can while she is in school.
For those considering a career in agriculture, Carson encourages you to get involved and make connections. “Start by looking into the different parts of agriculture and finding which one speaks to you,” she said. “Reach out to industry experts and ask for advice or shadowing opportunities. Get involved any way that you can and follow the path that works best for you.” We are so excited for Carson and all that she is going to do for the future of agriculture, and specifically horticulture, across the state!