Traditionally, high school curricula must cover the core subjects: math, science, history. Now, educators like Jacob Ball are growing the importance and prevalence of agriculture education. 

Ball, a University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment alum and member of the Martin-Gatton CAFE Alumni Association Board, was a teacher at Carter G. Woodson Academy for 14 years until recently taking a position as executive director of the Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp. While at Carter G., which serves students grades 6-12, he received the national Milken Educator Award, which honors outstanding teachers across the nation.

When he first started at Carter G. Woodson, if students wanted to learn about agriculture, they would have to go to Locust Trace Agriscience Center for part of the day. Ball found this troublesome, as agriculture is a large part of Kentucky’s economy. According to Ball, leaving school even for just one class can disrupt a student’s routine. 

“Thinking about teaching ag at Carter G. made me look at it through a different lens,” said Ball. “How can I make this valuable to them?” 

Ball met Tyren Harris as a seventh grader.

“I knew he was interested from the first class. When a student is engaged like that, you want to get them involved as soon as you can,” Ball said. “Giving students opportunities at a young age makes a huge difference.” 

Harris, now a Martin-Gatton CAFE freshman in the Department of Community Leadership and Development (CLD), was initially drawn to agriculture because of Ball’s passion for it. He was driven to keep learning when he discovered his own passion for service. Harris’s involvement in FFA and MANRRS at Carter G. Woodson eventually led to his selection as the Kentucky FFA State Treasurer and UK MANRRS Recruitment Chair and Public Relations Co-Chair. 

“The theme of our application was ‘Made to Serve,’” Harris said. “When Mr. Ball came to Carter G., there was no ag program. Creating a new program for his students was service in itself.” 

Harris seemed overwhelmed when asked what about agriculture interests him most. Traditional farming, like harvesting crops or raising livestock, is just part of the industry. To Harris, this was a shock, but also an inspiration. 

“What I learned at Carter G. is that ag applies to everyone,” Harris said. “We are all connected to a mission in agriculture, no matter where you come from.” 

Ball remembers seeing Harris’ potential the first day they met.  

“Tyren is a student that truly would have been successful with or without me,” Ball said. “As an ag teacher, the biggest joy is seeing them consider ag as a career opportunity.” 

In CLD, Harris hopes to learn more about urban agriculture. He described this as all the ways we incorporate agriculture into our communities. Examples include using solar or other sources of energy, community gardens to encourage growing healthy foods or intentional landscaping. 

Throughout his freshman year at UK, Harris will continue to serve FFA and MANRRS by sharing his passion for the field. He looks forward to his new relationship with Mr. Ball: first student-teacher, then mentor-mentee, and now peers. 

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Writer: Grace Sowards, grace.sowards@uky.edu 

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