AEC Review (Spring 2018)

AECREVIEW spring 2018

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DR. BRIAN MYERS

Professor and Chair

ver the past couple of years, we have been taking a comprehensive look at the involvement of the department in the areas of teaching, research and extension. In order to ensure that we are consistently providing high-quality programs and research to our students and stakeholders, we have brought in some new personnel to the staffing team of AEC. Within the past two years, we have added some new faces in the department in the positions of a research coordinator, e-Learning programs specialist, a full-time fiscal assistant, business manager, and a marketing and communications specialist. We are also in the process of hiring a new academic advisor to make sure our undergraduate students are getting consistent, high-quality advising. All of these positions play a key role in developing programs and research that assist our department in being one of the best in the field.

All of our new staff are integral to our deparmtent, but I am also excited to announce that, starting this summer, Dr. Jamie Loizzo will be joining our faculty as an assistant professor of agricultural communication. Dr. Loizzo comes to us from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and will assist in the teaching, research and extension programs of the department.

It is always an exciting time to be an AEC Gator, and being an AEC Gator does not just mean being a student. Our alumni are continuously changing the face of agricultural education and communication, and we want to hear about all of your adventures. If you haven’t already done so, please be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. I look forward to hearing from you!

Our faculty and staff are committed to improving all of our programs so that every student and stakeholder that comes in contact with AEC receives consistent, high-quality programs and service. We look forward to working with our partners and stakeholders as we continue this important work.

Go Gators!

STAFF DIRECTORS

COPY EDITORS

ASSISTANT DIRECTORS

ASSISTANT COPY EDITORS

ART/PHOTO DIRECTORS

DESIGNER

Andrea Dautant Emily Vu

Shelby Carlton Ashley Mitchell

Rachel Broedell Edwards Guerra 2 | AEC Review

Jack Saboor Olivia Stultz

Savannah Ogborn Kate Rose

Jarred Shellhouse

STAFF WRITERS

Sarah Cameron Annie Muscato Cameron Outlaw William Ramer Jarred Shellhouse Gabe Spandau Teresa Suits Shelby Weihmeir

AEC GRADUATES SPRING 2018 DOCTORATE DEGREE RECIPIENT Anna Warner

Agricultural Education

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE RECIPIENTS Peyton Beattie

Joshua “Clay” Hurdle

Bridgette Compton

Ashley McLeod

Jessica Harsh

Tayor Polinard

Extension Education

Agricultural Education

Agricultural Communication

Leadership Development

Agricultural Communication

Agricultural Education

Amy Warwick Hedstrom Extension Education

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE RECIPIENTS Agricultural Education Austin Davis McKenzie Farah Katherine Fernandez Morgan Gray Ashley Hassan Rebecca Mann Taylor Nelson

Cameron Pasman Jennifer Peters Jessica Radcliffe Hollie Rowe Justine Snyder Mechelle Trotman Brett Wasden

Communication and Leadership Development Jared Barnwell Matthew Bowden Robert “Chase” Brannan, IV Taylor Brown Corey Darnell Brett Ducker Taeler Dupre Victoria Edwards Dwayne Fletcher Ashley Gallops Cynthia Gutierrez Logan Luse Abby Marion Olivia Muchmore

Kelsey Newsome Beau Nistler Caroline Reeg Katelyn Ritter Heather Ryan Amara Salmon Amanda Schultheis James Sharpe Brittany Stanley Raychel Thomas David Wheeler, Jr. Jacob White Kailey Wofford Garrett Worth

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TABLE OF

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CONTENTS

EARTHQUAKE DEVASTATION TO EDUCATION REVOLUTION UF AND SUSTAINABILITY MAKING A CHANGE FOR THE GATOR GOOD CONNECTING THE DOTS IN AGRICULTURE

INNOVATIVE STUDENTS TEAM UP TO TACKLE BIODIVERSITY LOSS VALUABLE EXPERIENCE GAINED THROUGH INTERNSHIPS

A LETTER TO MY FRESHMAN SELF

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS Outstanding Young Alumni: Chris Vitelli

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Cultivating Relationships: Christy Chiarelli

20

Molded Through Mentorship: 24 Kati Lawson A New Home: Tory Moore

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HIGHLIGHTS CALS Awards Banquet

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Fighting Citrus Greening

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The Future of Pesticides

18

AEC Graduate Programs

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Earthquake

Devastation to Education Revolution

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fter a devastating earthquake affected millions of people in the country of Haiti in 2010, Haitian-American sophomore Bertrhude Albert wanted to find a way to help. An English major with a desire to provide some relief to the people of Haiti, Albert suggested making a trip to Haiti to her friend, Priscilla Zelaya.

The two influenced 17 other University of Florida (UF) students to join them, and during spring break of 2011, the 19 undergraduate students took about 400 pounds of clothes, shoes and food to the Haitian communities.

WRITTEN BY JARRED SHELLHOUSE the difference they made wasn’t the positive impact for which they hoped.

Speaking with the community leaders, the two learned they actually hurt the Haitian communities they so wanted to help.

“See that man over there,” one community leader told them. “He makes shoes. No one will be buying from him for a few weeks because of all the shoes you brought us.” The same was true for other merchants who made clothes, or farmers who relied on their sales to live. Albert and Zelaya still wanted to help the people of Haiti,

a difference, the right way. In July of 2011, Projects for Haiti officially became a business, and by December of that year they were a certified nonprofit, with a new focus on bringing adequate education to Haiti.

The duo focused first on their own education, finishing their bachelor’s degrees and going on to complete their master’s degrees at the University of Florida.

“During our master’s programs,” Albert said, “Priscilla and I met Dr. Grady Roberts at a panel he was speaking at. He helped recruit us into a

“[AEC taught us how] to provide communities that aren’t being heard with a microphone to express their concerns and needs.”

-BERTRHUDE ALBERT

Toward the end of the week in Haiti, Albert and Zelaya sat down to speak with some of the community leaders.

The two felt proud of the relief they provided to these communities. They felt that they had truly made a difference, and truth-be-told, they had. However, 6 | AEC Review

however they realized their aid should not come in the form of donated goods, but rather in education. Thus, Projects for Haiti (later P4H Global) was born.

As a sophomore and junior in college, respectively, Albert and Zelaya wanted to focus their work on making

Ph.D. program within the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC).”

As minority women who created their own business, Albert and Zelaya knew obtaining a terminal degree in their chosen field of study would only be

Courtesy of Bertrhude Albert

beneficial. It wouldn’t be until they were immersed in the program in AEC that they would realize just how beneficial.

Both Albert and Zelaya pursued, and later obtained, doctorate degrees in AEC, specializing in Extension Education.

“Those 2 ½ years (during our Ph.D.) were formative for us,” Albert said. “AEC expanded our minds academically. We were learning things like evaluation which have been absolutely critical to the strength of our organization.”

Before their doctoral program, the pair would conduct educational programs in Haiti with no use of evaluation. Now, they use their skills to constantly improve their programs to make a larger impact in the Haitian communities.

Albert said their AEC education also helped them wrap their heads around positive community development.

They learned how to help populations in need instead of hurting them. They learned how to not only give a voice

to those populations, but to provide communities that aren’t being heard with a microphone to express their concerns and needs.

teacher training nonprofit in Haiti.

For Albert, this business represents a duality of feelings. She has watched it, and co-built it, from an idea to a successful program that is creating a global impact in -BERTRHUDE ALBERT education.

In December 2016, Albert and “Priscilla and I frequently tell each Zelaya graduated from the University other ‘I can’t imagine doing anything of Florida for the third time. At this else,’” Albert said. “It is surreal and I point, Projects for Haiti had grown feel incredibly blessed, but there is also so much through service trips from this other side of me that constantly community members and students who says, ‘There is more.’” wanted to make a difference that the P4H Global has reached over 2,600 twosome was able to work full-time for teachers in Haiti by taking church the business they created. It continued and community groups, as well as to grow at such an exponential rate UF students to deliver educational that by January 1, 2017, the name programs, but they are pushing the changed from Projects for Haiti to P4H organization to grow.

Global, with the intent to bring similar “There is this ambition to see even education programs to communities more,” Albert said. “Our first trip, that may need it across the world. bringing clothes and shoes into Haiti, P4H Global is continuing to deliver was not sustainable. I hope that if programs to educators in Haiti to we continue to educate teachers in address the 80 percent of Haitian Haiti that I will one day see poverty educators that are not trained or eradicated in my country.” • qualified. Currently, it is the largest

“I will one day see poverty eradicated in my country.”

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UF AND SUSTAINABILITY MAKING A CHANGE FOR THE GATOR GOOD

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WRITTEN BY ANDREA DAUTANT

undreds of rowing athletes have an opportunity to make a change in the environment, as UF takes sustainability on the road.

The University of Florida IFAS Extension in Sarasota County has established a composting program at Nathan Benderson Park, where rowing teams compete. This is an ongoing collaboration with the community park and other entities in Sarasota.

Randall Penn is the Extension officer in charge of this program. Penn said the composting project is the only one of its kind in the state of Florida.

“This was a major event coming to Sarasota County,” Penn said.

This event did not begin with a set goal in mind. Penn’s initial focus was to reduce food waste at Nathan Benderson, establish the composting program and get a volunteering program running.

“I just wanted to see if we could do it to start and get people comfortable with it,” Penn said.

The program initially focused on bringing general awareness to the visitors of the park, providing information on what the program itself was aiming to accomplish. The organizers also were hoping to make people comfortable with the new composting bin. This education of park visitors eventually evolved to target certain groups, mainly the rowing athletes.

“I’ve always been a big fan of using the power of sports to implement change, especially environmentally,” Penn said.

This kind of impact is also being made back home, through the University of Florida Athletic Association. Since

2006, the Office of Sustainability and the UAA have been working together to improve sustainability practices in athletics.

Mathew Williams, Office of Sustainability director, agrees with Penn’s claim that sports can make a positive impact on the environment.

“There’s no question that sports are one of those things that crosses all barriers in society. To focus on sport sustainability really helps to open people’s eyes to what’s possible,” Williams said.

The rowing venue and the Gator football stadium both see a consistent stream of people on a regular basis because of the events that occur

great way to showcase change and sustainability, Williams said. The events provide environments where people want to see people winning, and that sense, sustainability solutions are considered wins for everyone in society.

The constantly changing crowds, with varying customs and beliefs, come with challenges. Event organizers must reexplain the systems to newcomers and most commonly, the people do not really take the time understand the systems.

Allison Vitt, the outreach and communications coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, said that educating fans about waste reduction will be a challenge for the foreseeable future.

“Anyone who has been to a Gator game can attest that it can -RANDALL PENN sometimes be so crowded that it’s difficult to even find a recycling bin, let alone take the time to properly sort waste between recycling and compost,” Vitt said.

Vitt added that it is important to create programs that empower people to make the decision whether to act and start recycling.

“Education alone does not equal behavior change,” Vitt said.

The composting program in Sarasota has grown and is widely recognized.

Penn said more composting is occurring at the events. People have started to reach out about being a part of the program, and Penn and the event organizers have been able to expand to other events, like swim meets.

“There is notoriety on it. We are doing events around the county,” Penn said.

The vendors that attend these events

“I’ve always been a big fan of using the power of sports to implement change.”

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throughout the year.

The composting program in Sarasota has had an impact since Penn and volunteers go to the various team tents to speak with athletes. They also communicate with the teams ahead of time to work towards a zero-waste event by using compostable cups, for example. In 2013, Gator football transitioned into using only concession items that could be composted or recycled.

During fall 2017, the composting program in Sarasota had its biggest opportunity at the World Rowing Championship to create change. The program was faced with having up to 40,000 people coming into the park from all over the world, when previously they had worked with only about 2,500 visitors.

These kinds of crowds are a

Courtesy of UF/IFAS Communications Above: A UF community farm student garden started a composting option to improve sustainability. Middle: UF/IFAS Extension officer Randall Penn and UF student volunteer, Sophia Sanchez, at the World Rowing Championships 2017 in Sarasota, FL. Bottom: Official UF/IFAS composting bin at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, FL.

also get involved. While they don’t have much waste, they will throw out things like coffee grounds and lemons, to name a few. Penn said that it has gotten to the point that people start to ask where the composting bins are if they don’t see them at the event.

This program was initially difficult to start. Penn said it was a simple idea, going from two bins to three, as the composting bins were being added to the already existing trash and recycling ones.

The Extension staff had to make sure they got people at the various venues comfortable with the concept of composting, and then they faced a cost issue. Cost is a major player in establishing any sustainability practice.

“With sustainability issues, we’re still trying to figure out ‘how do we fund these?’” Williams said.

Williams has realized that sustainability practices have long-term saving, but at times, they may have to pay more upfront. For example, the sustainability office must work around the university budget that changes annually.

Organizers let the composting

process at events happen naturally.

Penn said they did not hover over people but went out and educated them. People’s participation improved as the event went on. The guests’ low environmental impact at events has made this program successful.

To gain exposure, the bins at Nathan Benderson were branded in UF colors.

The colors also stood for UF’s mission and Extension goal.

“We have to create a culture of sustainability at UF and help others really see themselves as fitting into that culture just by nature of being a Gator,” Vitt said.

The University is working towards this goal by promoting different plans, such as a biking program. They are also working to provide a more centralized message that can be applied campuswide. What might be considered recyclable or compostable inside the football stadium isn’t the same as at the Reitz.

“There is definitely some level of confusion,” Vitt said. “Inside the stadium, ‘do it this way,’ but outside the stadium, ‘do it like this instead.’”

Overall, improvements are being

made on campus, like Athletics targeting energy usage during sporting events, as the campus community learns the importance of sustainability.

“We have to be willing to try new things and know that they may not work,” Williams said. •

Courtesy of Randall Penn

Courtesy of Randall Penn 9 | aec.ifas.ufl.edu

Connecting the dots in agriculture Hi.

It was a simple word that caused an unexpected turn in the undergraduate career of sophomore Micah Scanga. His first two years at the University of Florida (UF) were not spent in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC), and Scanga was struggling to connect to his studies. That is, until he wandered into the office of former academic program specialist Jodi (DeGraw) Modica, who turned around and greeted Scanga with a simple “Hi.” “It’s weird and cliché,” said Scanga, “but it really took me back. This was one of the first times someone stopped what they were doing and seemed excited to teach me about their program. It was the first time I felt a personal connection and the more I learned, the more I liked.”

Scanga’s collegiate career was a positive developmental experience for him, but he realized, while what he learned in the classroom was important, the power of connection was something that grew with him even more. AEC provided Scanga with many personal connections that would last far beyond his commencement ceremony.

Scanga grew up just north of Tampa, Florida, one generation removed from 10 | AEC Review

WRITTEN BY JARRED SHELLHOUSE agriculture. Both of his parents were involved in the agriculture and natural resources industries and Scanga had an interest in agriculture, but he started his undergraduate career at UF with a different major.

“For a student who spent most of his first two years with 2,000 kids in a lecture,” Scanga said. “There was a personal touch missing. I was struggling with connecting to the materials and professors.”

After a change in his course of study, Scanga settled into his new coursework.

This may have been important, but he found something else that seemed to be very formative in his undergraduate experience: student organizations.

“I was very involved in my fraternity (Alpha Gamma Rho),” Scanga started.

“Between that and Florida Blue Key, I realized that I was forming people skills and personal relationships that were developing me as a student and as a person.”

He attributes his development in communication and leadership skills to the connections he made in his student organizations and involvements at UF. In graduate school, Scanga worked with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) Ambassadors and the CALS Dean’s office, which only

enhanced those skills further.

As Scanga started to pursue his master’s degree in AEC, specializing in leadership development, a few new personal dots started to connect.

He built close relationships with the faculty he worked with, befriended and collaborated with some of the other graduate students, and then met someone else. Today, he calls her his wife (and she is also one of our AEC alumni).

“We met in Dr. Osborne’s proposal development class,” Scanga said, chuckling at the irony. “But, we didn’t start dating until the last few months before graduation.”

This relationship remained with Scanga through his first job, and together, they took a chance and moved to the state of Washington together.

Today, Scanga works for Syngenta in a retail representative position.

There, he represents his company to channel of retailers, distributers and growers, while working in an area surrounded by over 50 agricultural commodities flourishing.

“There has been one theme in my life,” said Scanga. “I am one lucky and blessed guy, and I have had a great community of people get me here.” •

NEW BEGINNINGS

Micah and Lauren Scanga, met in an agricultural educaiton and communication class during their time as graduate students in AEC. They currently reside in the state of Washington.

Photos courtesy of Micah Scanga

Micah Scanga and Lauren Hrncirik were both graduate students in AEC. First meeting in Dr. Osborne’s proposal development class, the two started a relationship that led them to a move across the country and a wedding. Micah, however, did not believe he would even make it past the first date.

“We didn’t start dating until the last few months before graduation,” Micah said.

“But that first date, I thought I tanked it.”

At the time, all he had was his Harley Davidson, but Micah had picked Lauren up on a Monday evening to take her to one of his favorite pizza places about a half hour away from campus.

“I talked up this pizza joint,” said Micah.

“I mean, I really talked it up, and I was so excited to show her.”

However, when they arrived, Micah realized it was closed on Mondays.

“I felt so bad,” Micah said. “I drug her all the way out here on my Harley for this pizza I kept talking up and it wasn’t even open. It was terrible.”

Lauren, on the other hand, disagreed.

“I had a crush on Micah for like a year,” she said. “I was just excited that we were finally going out. I never thought it was a flop.”

Lauren saw the date as an adventure and she was just along for the ride.

“We ended up coming back to Gainesville and picking a place to eat randomly because it was open and wasn’t busy,” she said.

While Micah may have seen this as a catastrophe, it was the start of a new relationship. Today, “the Scangas” reside in the state of Washington and are happily married.

“We were both kind of looking for a new adventure,” Lauren said. “Washington is just where the next chapter took us.”

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CALS HONORS SCHOLARSHIP AND LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNERS

WRITTEN BY KATE ROSE AND WILLIAM RAMER

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he University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences recognized 418 students and faculty members Thursday, April 19 at its annual CALS Scholarship and Leadership Awards Banquet. In addition to the award winners, the CALS Ambassadors, Honors Scholars, CALS Leadership Institute and club of the year, the Entomology Club, were also honored.

The ceremonies began after a buffet dinner and dessert, with a light-hearted introduction from the emcee, undergraduate student in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC) Brett Wasden.

CALS Dean Elaine Turner and associate deans Joel Brendemuhl and Al Wysocki presented awards.

Numerous scholarships, four teaching awards and six student awards were presented. A full list of this year’s student award recipients can be found by clicking here.

Finalists for student awards were honored at the banquet before the winner was announced. Heather Ryan, an AEC major, was awarded the J. Wayne Reitz Medal of Excellence Outstanding Senior Award.

Ryan said she was “honored to stand next to the two other individuals recognized on stage as finalists. That’s the wonderful aspect about a community of scholars and world shakers; when you stand next to them, you can’t help but be sharpened and changed for the better.” Ryan is graduating this spring and will be serving as one of 25 interns for the Greenhouse Church this summer.

AEC senior Shannon Fry was recognized for her involvement in the CALS Leadership Institute and for her contributions to the CALS Ambassadors program. She said CALS ambassadors talk to prospective students about the college. “We’re able to network with the Florida agriculture, such as

the Dinner of Distinction, as well as letting senators and congressmen know what’s happening in the IFAS program,” Fry said.

Other AEC students that were recognized inlcuded Robert “Chase” Brannan, finalist for the Emelie Matthews Award of Excellence, and Abby Marion, finalist f or the CALS Alumni and Friends Leadership Award.

In her message to banquet guests, Turner said, “CALS is one of the most diverse colleges of agricultural and related sciences in the country.” She reported that the students on the Dean’s List in CALS alone make up 27 percent of the undergraduate student body at UF. Clay Hurdle, an AEC master’s student and past recipient of the E.T. York Junior Member of Excellence award and the CALS Alumni and Friends scholarship, said the status of the audience at the banquet makes it one of CALS’ premiere events. Even so, he said, the evening isn’t about marketing.

“CALS is a family atmosphere,” Hurdle said. “It gives me hope for where UF and Florida agriculture is going in the future.”

Each year, full-time CALS students are invited to apply for CALS scholarships.

Applications are reviewed by a faculty board, which match students with the scholarship and award opportunities that suit them.

In the 2017-2018 academic year, CALS awarded $377,575 to 336 undergraduate students and $132,900 to 63 graduate students.

Ryan reflected on how this kind of support has helped shape her undergraduate career.

“I don’t know of another community in academia with more communication, intentionality and follow up,” Ryan said.

“I can’t articulate the enrichment enough.

CALS developed me as a student, scholar, leader, but most importantly as a person.” • Photos courtesy of UF/IFAS Communications

AEC GRAD RECOGNIZED AS OUTSTANDING UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS

WRITTEN BY ANNIE MUSCATO

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Ch

itelli V s ri

he path for each alumnus of the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC) is unique. For some, it travels straight into a job within the agriculture and natural resources industry, others funnel into the classroom, and there are still some students that continue their education by pursuing a graduate or professional degree. Chris Vitelli found his path as an AEC alumnus roaming across the country, consistently tied with higher education.

As a first-generation college student, AEC served as Vitelli’s introduction to his academic career.

“The communication skills I learned are, of course, invaluable,” he said, “but [AEC] really connected me to the world of higher education.”

Vitelli credits AEC faculty with fostering a feeling of support as a first-generation student and giving him the confidence to do anything with his degree.

While he felt that all of the faculty invested in him, Vitelli said Dr. Ed Osborne really made him feel at home.

“He is an amazing faculty member,” Vitelli said about Osborne. “I always felt that he was truly invested in me as a person and as a student.”

Once Vitelli received his bachelor’s degree, he headed to Harvard University

for his Master of Education degree in administration, planning and social policy.

It wasn’t long, however, before he found himself back at the University of Florida (UF), working as the Director of Student Services for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Vitelli said his time working in student affairs allowed him to use the technical skills in AEC and helped him find his passion. Since then, he has served in a variety of capacities within higher education. In 2016, Vitelli became the new Merced College President in California. Merced College is part of the largest educational system in the world.

Last month, Vitelli made another trip back to Gainesville, when he was awarded the UF Alumni Association’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award. This award is given annually to a select group of alumni under the age of 40 “whose achievements positively reflect the Gator Nation.”

“We are so pleased to have Mr. Vitelli recognized for his accomplishments,” said Dr. Brian Myers, professor and chair of AEC. “Our department continues to watch our alumni reach new successes and positively impact the world, and I am proud that Mr. Vitelli has received the Outstanding Young Alumni award for his achievements in higher education.” ​•

Photo courtesy of Chris Vitelli 13 | aec.ifas.ufl.edu

INNOVATIVE STUDENTS TEAM UP

& TACKLE BIODIVERSITY LOSS

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t isn’t every day a first-year college student has a world-changing business idea. Through the University of Florida’s new academic program, the Innovation Academy, students are given the opportunity to do just that. On June 15, the program will be hosting its sixth annual Catalyst Prototype Competition. They will showcase unique business ideas that aim to solve a specific global problem.

The event serves as a “final project” for the IA’s first-year class offering.

Students who are in the program earn a minor in innovation by taking courses in creativity, leadership and entrepreneurship.

The second class they take as firstyear students requires participation in this competition. Students team up with their peers and utilize what they have learned in class for their innovation minor to design a product or service. What they design will be based on the year’s Gator Good campaign theme. This year’s theme is biodiversity loss.

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WRITTEN BY OLIVIA STULTZ From past years, the event has been compared to the hit business idea show “Shark Tank.” Students compete in a similar fashion by creating a business idea and pitching it to a group of judges.

With over 50 teams competing, this year is expected to be the largest competition base yet. In comparison with the 2016 competition, this is a huge jump; that year only had 29 teams.

Winners will receive awards pertaining to their entrepreneurial abilities such as “Judge’s Choice” and “Market Ready.”

Outside guests can even choose awards such as the interactive “People’s Choice Award.” It allows non-participants to vote for their favorite team’s idea.

Even though it is not summer yet, program participants have been preparing for Catalyst. Their current class explains how to prepare for the event.

A s h l e y Stultz, a

freshman IA student, said she heard about Catalyst in her IA class and has been looking forward to it ever since.

“I am excited to research a topic that I haven’t thought of before,” Stultz said.

“I am also so excited to see the diverse outcomes of all the projects.”

IA partners with colleges who have experience with the year’s topic. This serves to give teams a background on the problem and provide resources for conception. Since this year’s theme is biodiversity loss, IA has been working closely with the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. IFAS has been actively tracking the problem, as they claim Florida is the most biologically diverse state in our country.

Experts from IFAS and CALS are expected to be event speakers and serve as judges.

AEC and IA freshman student Julia Canady said she is excited to participate in the competition and find solutions to such an important topic.

“Biodiversity is directly related to our success as humanity,” Canady said.

Photos courtesy of Innovation Academy Above: IA student Allison Schaper shows UF President Fuchs her Catalyst 2016 project.

Left: IA students Delaney Goff and Brittany Kinney present their “Ktop” prototype at Catalyst 2016.

“It is essentially the genetic trust for our future. Because of this, it ties into so many other fields.”

After teams decide on a final business idea and complete their prototype, they compete at Catalyst. Tables are set up in the ballroom for guests and judges to observe the different projects. Students are taught in class how to give an elevator pitch to prepare for talking with observers at the showcase. Past guests include previous academy speakers, local business leaders and entrepreneurs, UF administrators, patent attorneys, college faculty and staff, participants’ families, venture capitalists and college students. UF President Kent Fuchs has made appearances in the past and is expected to visit this year as well. IA expects a higher guest attendance for the 2018 competition because of the larger competition base and revamped outreach.

As the event is hosted by the Innovation Academy, the IA ambassadors will

help put on the event. Secretary of IA Ambassadors Brittany Kinney said she is looking forward to having the ambassadors help with the event.

“I talked with some of the students who are taking the creativity class,” Kinney said. “I can’t wait to see their creativity based on this year’s topic.”

The president of the organization serves as a judge and the official tiebreaker. Other ambassadors help with duties such as a judge’s aide, check-in,

them to solve local and global problems as their duty of being a Gator. The website says, “It’s about bringing together the brightest minds to solve our toughest challenges.”

The Innovation Academy encourages anyone interesting in seeing the projects to visit.

Catalyst will take place in the J. Wayne Reitz Union Rion Ballroom from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entrance is free to the public, and refreshments will be served.

Organizers also encourage those who are looking for more -JULIA CANADY information to visit the official website, innovationacademy.ufl.edu, as it provides further information and its background. Closer to the date, more details on logistics such as parking and directions will be released on the website. •

“Biodiversity is essentially the genetic trust of our future.” interacting with guests, and serving refreshments.

UF aims to stand out from other top 10 public universities. As a result, the “Gator Good” campaign was formed.

From the campaign’s official website, the campaign asks the question: “How are we doing it together for the greater good?” IA ties into this call-to-action by bringing students with an innovative mindset together and encouraging

15 | aec.ifas.ufl.edu

A slice of hope for citrus WRITTEN BY SHELBY CARLTON

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magine walking through a barren field that was once orange groves as far as the eye could see. This is reality for citrus growers today. Citrus growers all over the state are losing hope for their groves. During the hurricanes in 2005, a pest was spread from grove to grove. Little did they know this small pest would have a major impact on the citrus industry.

The Asian citrus psyllid is an invasive species that has spread, drastically destroying groves. Invasive species are those that are not native and cause harm to an environment. The psyllid’s main target is new growth on young citrus trees. The psyllids are small brown pests with a long slender body and wings. They can be found on the underside of leaves with their mouths touching the leaves. Unlike many other pests, the psyllid’s damage cannot be seen right away. In fact, it takes one to two years before the effects are noticed.

The disease that the Asian citrus psyllid vectors is Huanglongbing which is more commonly known as citrus 16 | AEC Review

greening. This disease travels into the vascular system of the trees and prevents the fruits from obtaining sugar.

Without the necessary sugars, the fruits cannot thrive. This causes the fruits to be deformed and sour. Greening is responsible for destroying 80% of the state’s citrus production.

Although the citrus industry has experienced hardships over the past few years, there are many people who are looking for a solution. The industry accounts for 60,000 full time and parttime jobs. If a cure to the disease is not found soon, many people will lose their jobs.

Adam Putnam is the current commissioner of agriculture and a candidate for governor. “Until a longterm solution is discovered, which some of our state’s brightest minds are working on, we must support Florida’s multi-billion-dollar citrus industry and the more than 60,000 jobs it supports,” Putnam said.

Although there have been many potential solutions, only a few are still

being considered. For example, the Tree Defender is a potential option.

This is a product that was invented by two citrus growers. Their slogan is “created by growers, for growers.”

The two inventers, Tommy Thayer Jr. and Scott Thompson, are located in Dundee.

The Tree Defender is a breathable screen that fits over young citrus trees.

This screen helps keep psyllids and various other pests and diseases out.

So far, there hasn’t been a psyllid found on any of the trees covered with the screen. The product has been in the field for three years. They are used on young trees for the first two years. After this, they can be removed, or a larger screen can be applied.

The Tree Defender is a relatively new invention that is still being promoted.

The screen’s main purpose are citrus trees. However, they are being used on other crops such as tomatoes. Many growers are starting to purchase them for their own groves and various other crops.

Courtesy of UF/IFAS Communications

Dr. James Graham is a professor of Soil Microbiology at the University of Florida Citrus Research and Education Center. He has thoroughly researched the Tree Defender. “The Tree Defender is a highly profitable investment for Florida citrus growers that plant trees as resets or in solid blocks and I wouldn’t consider planting a tree without the protection that the Tree Defender affords,” Graham said in a section about him on the Tree Defender website.

Another possible solution that is still being tested are tiny wasps. This species of parasitic wasps (Tamarixia radiata) are being introduced to citrus groves. The wasps lay eggs into the psyllid nymphs, which kills them.

This technique has already been implemented in California and they plan to increase the number of wasps in future years.

Photo from thetreedefender.com

David Morgan is an entomologist who runs the wasp-rearing program for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. “It has to reproduce more rapidly than the pest, live in the same environment and eat it,” Morgan said in a National Geographic article.

“Florida is synonymous with citrus, and without immediate and tangible support, as well as a long-term solution, Florida is facing the prospect of losing its signature crop,” Putnam said. Many citrus growers have sold their farms to developers since 2005. They saw nothing but gloom and doom in the future of the citrus industry.

In that same time, it has been the mission of people such as Graham to bring back a feeling of hope that is felt today. This hope is that one day, these growers will no longer gaze upon barren fields but instead green groves.•

Scott Thompson and Tommy Thayer Jr. with their product the Tree Defender.

17 | aec.ifas.ufl.edu

GAINESVILLE RESEARCHERS

FIND PROMISING ALTERNATIVES TO

CONVENTIONAL

PESTICIDES WRITTEN BY EMILY VU

Left: Stringy psyllid excrement on a citrus plant are signs that there is a psyllid infestation.

Middle: Rearing cages for the parasitoid wasp, Tamarixia radiata, are housed at the Division of Plant Industry.

Right: Parasitoid wasps in a plastic tube.

Photos by Emily Vu

PEST INFESTATIONS 18 | AEC Review

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any researchers are investigating novel biopesticides and their uses in different industries, addressing the public’s increasing concern about conventional pesticides. Their work has applications not only in agriculture but also everyday life.

Dr. Emma Weeks and Dr. Justin Renkema are just two of the researchers at the University of Florida studying new biopesticides. Researchers of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at the Division of Plant Industry (DPI) are also working on biological controls.

Biopesticides are natural substitutes for conventional, synthetic pesticides. They can be biochemical, microbial or genetically modified. More growers are now turning to biopesticides, in combination with other strategies, because they are generally more environmentally friendly.

Many also degrade fairly quickly in the environment.

Weeks, an assistant research scientist in medical and veterinary entomology at UF, researches biopesticide solutions to address blood-feeding pests. “They are generally not pollutants. They generally don’t have effects outside of Arthropoda, so human toxicity is usually lower, a lot lower,” she said.

Weeks specializes in insects that feed on humans and animals. She has researched methionine and its effects on crop pests and mosquitos. For humans, methionine is an essential amino acid. It also has uses as a larvicide for certain mosquito species. Weeks has found that it has a minimal impact on other organisms such as honey bees and daphnids. Daphnids, or water fleas, are small crustaceans that serve as a food source for fish and some aquatic organisms.

Renkema, assistant professor in entomology at UF’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, said biopesticides

have benefits not only for consumers but also for those who come in direct contact with pesticides. “Pesticides are more harmful to the people working with them or the workers in the field,” he said.

Renkema specializes in small-fruit entomology research. He is working on solutions for strawberry pests such as two-spotted spider mites and chilli thrips. “Spider mites are always a problem for strawberry growers,” he said. Predatory mites, or Phytoseiulus persimilis, are an effective biological control for the spider mites.

Another alternative to conventional pesticides is biological control, which usually has more species specificity, Weeks said. A control method with high species specificity means it has little to no effects on non-target organisms.

Biological control, or biocontrol, is a way of reducing pest populations by using their natural enemies.

The controlling organisms may be predatory, parasitoid, or pathogenic organisms.

Both biological controls and biopesticides are generally cost-effective in the long run. While biopesticides can be costlier because they sometimes need multiple applications, the resulting organic crops can be marketed at a higher price. In addition, biopesticides

are easier and quicker to register with the Environmental Protection Agency, Renkema said.

Amy Howe, an assistant bureau chief of Methods Development and Biological Control at the Division of Plant Industry, has done research on plant pests. Biocontrols are intended to propagate and sustain themselves, so repeated applications are not necessary, Howe said.

Howe has worked on controlling pests such as air potatoes, Asian citrus psyllids and giant African land snails.

Asian citrus psyllids are carriers that spread the bacteria that cause citrus greening. Citrus greening, or Huanglongbing, is a disease that is devastates citrus production. Infected trees cannot be cured and bear bitter, unusable fruit. Small parasitoid wasps have been successful in controlling Asian citrus psyllid populations.

DPI rears the wasp, Tamarixia radiata, at its rearing facilities. It is estimated that one rearing cage can produce tens of thousands of wasps to ship to areas in need each year.

Testing on one biological control may last anywhere from seven to 20 years, depending on whether it is native and specific. For example, DPI is currently researching solutions for the cactus moth, an invasive species

that threatens populations of prickly pear cacti. Researchers are about seven to eight years into work for a solution, Howe said. DPI must evaluate its specificity, safety, whether the species is native to the environment and whether it may affect alternative hosts. DPI has “incredibly rigorous standards,” she said.

It is important to note that the goal of biopesticides is to “keep pest populations low,” Renkema said. They are not a curative method. The same idea applies to biological controls.

While parasitoid wasps have been useful in reducing populations of Asian citrus psyllids, they do not eradicate the psyllids.

Though biopesticides are biologically derived, doesn’t mean they are always safer, Howe cautioned. Sometimes, usage of conventional pesticides is necessary, she said. Traditional chemical techniques are sometimes used on small areas. If intervention is early enough, then traditional pesticides often do the job and there is no need for biopesticides or biocontrols.

The field of biopesticides and biological control is growing rapidly, with commercial companies developing new products and selling biocontrol agents. There is still a lot of work to be done, Renkema said. •

19 | aec.ifas.ufl.edu

CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS, GROWING PROGRAMS

Courtesy of Christy Chiarelli

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very day, Christy Chiarelli helps build both programs and relationships. She connects programs with friends and alumni of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida (UF). Chiarelli’s work helps secure resources that support IFAS programs, allowing each one to make a larger impact on the world.

Chiarelli is a two-time alumna of UF, earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC). Her time in AEC began when she transferred into UF and the department in the spring of 2006. “[AEC] was welcoming from day one,” she said. “I worried it would be scary, but the faculty were wonderfully comforting and the department quickly felt familiar.”

Upon completion of her bachelor’s degree, Chiarelli said the decision to stay in AEC for a master’s degree was 20 | AEC Review

WRITTEN BY ANNIE MUSCATO AND JARRED SHELLHOUSE an easy one, because she knew she had more to learn. After receiving her master’s degree, she accepted a job as a coordinator for the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education (PIE Center), an affiliate program of AEC. In 2011, Chiarelli made a career change into fundraising.

Today, she is the Senior Director of Advancement for the IFAS Office of Advancement.

While “fundraising” may often seem like a taboo word, Chiarelli finds it especially rewarding to play a part in advancing the programs that supported her as a student.

In a way, Chiarelli really hasn’t left since she arrived in the department 12 years ago.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said. “AEC made me uniquely prepared to my job.”

Chiarelli said the agricultural communication skills she learned are used every day because she works with supporters within the agricultural

industry. Her time and training in the department laid the foundation for her being able to understand and anticipate the challenges and priorities of all agricultural industries in Florida.

This allows her to connect them with funding opportunities that serve both their respective industry and IFAS. Chiarelli said she can’t imagine doing anything else, but the most rewarding part of her job is being able to connect other alumni like herself back to the department to support current AEC students and initiatives.

“I have a front row seat to the most generous people you can imagine,” Chiarelli said. “Every day I am overwhelmed by their generosity.”

--If you would like to support the current students and initiatives of the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, please visit aec.ifas.ufl.edu/give or contact Jarred Shellhouse (jshellhouse@ufl.edu). •

My

AEC

STORY

LENDEL NARINE Extension Education

Lendel Narine grew up in Rio Claro, Trinidad and Tobago, surrounded by a family of small-scale farmers. He attended the University of the West Indies (UWI) for his undergraduate degree in agribusiness management, finding that much of his studies involved a large portion of consumer demand and economics.

Lendel went on to obtain his master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from UWI, mistakenly paired with an adviser in an Extension discipline.

“I kept working with my adviser, who helped coordinate trips from other faculty and students to UWI,” said Lendel.

At this point, he enjoyed Extension research because it allowed him to work with farmers throughout the Caribbean, and knew it could relate to small-scale farmers, but still focused his research on agricultural economics.

After obtaining his master’s degree, Lendel immediately started a Ph.D. program in economics. “I knew I always wanted to get a Ph.D., and I wanted to do it in economics,” he said.

Part-way through his doctoral program, Lendel found himself presenting his work with economics at a conference in Istanbul.

“I finished presenting at this conference,” Lendel said, “and when I walked out of the room I knew I was in the wrong program. I hated what I was presenting on because it was all theoretical and mathematical, and I lost focus on what I wanted when I started.”

This setback led Lendel to take a leap of faith and pursue a Ph.D. at another university. He and his wife, Amanda, packed up their luggage and headed to Europe for a new adventure, but quickly found that it still wasn’t the right place.

“It was probably the lowest point in our lives,” Lendel said. “We left our jobs and our families to try something new, and it failed for reasons we couldn’t control nor believe.”

As they were sitting in the airport, defeated and unsure of what to do, Lendel took another leap of faith.

“I met Dr. Amy Harder at UWI when she would visit every year and I helped set up their trips,” he said. “So we were sitting in the airport, and I sent her a Facebook message asking about doing a Ph.D. at UF.” Lendel and his wife quickly went through the application process and are now completing their Ph.D. degrees at UF, specializing in Extension education.

“It seems really cliché now,” he said, “but looking back, it really did work out for the best for us. This department is everything we expected it to be.”

Lendel is researching farmers’ ability to use information communication technologies to interact with Extension, and should graduate this December.

“This was always an area of interest, and this program gave me a chance to pursue it. That’s the best thing about Extension, it’s all about research to improve the lives of people.”

WRITTEN BY JARRED SHELLHOUSE 21 | aec.ifas.ufl.edu

Courtesy of Victoria Stecki

VALUABLE EXPERIENCE GAINED THROUGH INTERNSHIPS

WRITTEN BY GABE SPANDAU

I Gabe Spandau (right) replants lettuce with his internship team while working on the Living with the Land boat ride at Walt Disney World.

Courtesy of Nolan Yamen

Mishkad Chowdhury (right) enjoys some downtime with his coworkers on the farm while interning in Washington.

Courtesy of Connor Brock Connor Mack Brock interned with DOW Agrosciences doing market research on nitrogen stabilizers in a few different states | AECcountry.

Review across22the

nternships through the Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC) major can provide experience in careers that students may be considering spending a lifetime in. Students who have completed AEC internships talk about having hardworking peers and getting great hands on agricultural experience.

AEC student, Olivia Stulz, who interned at Walt Disney World as a reservationist, Stulz said completing her internship has helped prepare her for finishing up her bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and communication and for her future work experience. “All my peers wanted to help me grow professionally.” Said Stulz. During Stulz time at Disney she got to communicate with hundreds of guests from all over the world. Stulz said that this helped her develop her communication skills.

Mishkad Chowdhury, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences(CALS) student, who worked in a hydroponic greenhouse getting hands-on experience with agriculture.

Chowdhury said his internship was a great opportunity and he really enjoyed his time getting experience in his field.

“I got a grasp of the entire cycle, from nursery to harvest,” said Chowdhury.

Chowdhury said having the knowledge that he gained on his internship has given him the tools to achieve his career goal of being a horticulturalist.

These two accounts show some of the reactions from students who have finished internships that are available to AEC majors. The AEC major has a solid course track but students can also get an education in agriculture, leadership and communication while getting real work experience. This can be achieved through classes and internships To start looking for an internship that is the right fit, speak with an academic adviser. Internship opportunities can also be found on the AEC webpage.

The opportunities that are available to AEC students can also be found on the CALS newsletter.

Fortune 500 companies like Walt Disney World and DOW Agro sciences offer internships that can further AEC student’s education.

Internship experiences can be working in greenhouses, communicating in offices and with customers, making reservations, harvesting crops, or shadowing and working with company executives. For example, students who worked the plant science internship at Walt Disney World got to run their own greenhouse, which helped them gain skills with many aspect of food production. Another responsibility is to sell and give tours of the greenhouse, which helped to develop their communication skills.

With agricultural jobs growing in number, the opportunities for learning and development within the field are growing as well. Depending on how an internship relates to the degree, students may be eligible to for academic credits. The two people who can help determine eligibility for academic credits while working an internship are Dr. Ricky Telg and Dr. Nicole Stedman. Telg is in charge of anything that is communication related while Stedman is in charge of anything leadership related. The length and content of a student’s internship will also be key factors in earning academic credits. Students may need to write a paper to reflect the internships contribution to their education.

Internships are available year-round during all semesters. The length of the internships also varies by company and program, typically they last between one month to a full year. Internships for AEC can help further student’s education and careers.

Speaking with an academic adviser or doing some independent research will help determine what is the best learning opportunity. •

GRADUATE SCHOOL: WHERE TO BEGIN? As I sifted through the options for what was to come next in my life, I kept returning to the possibility of a master’s degree in leadership development.

Upon starting my master’s, this program has met me with challenges, opportunities, and some great friends.

The AEC program with its specialization in leadership development possessed many attractive qualities, but the trilogy of healthy community, academic opportunities, and brilliant faculty practically made my decision for me. As cliché as it may sound, the AEC department functions as a family; a diverse, highcaliber, high-performing family. The ample support from faculty and fellow students empowers me to tackle significant topics (i.e. ethical leader

development in complex systems) with confidence. The unique nature of the AEC department exposes me to the intersections between leadership and agricultural communication, education, and extension. It is this type of academic opportunity that forms the foundation for creating complex solutions to problems facing the world today. The professors and staff of the department are top-notch academics and high-quality human beings.

They intentionally spend their time cultivating sharp minds in classrooms and challenging current thought through their research.

A special part of the program has been working the mentorship I have received from faculty. They serve as academic advisers and personal

WRITTEN BY CAMERON OUTLAW

mentors. They have trusted me and challenged me with planning events, leading trips, and teaching class – the style of learning that has produced real competency and passion in me. I have realized the power of being believed in through this program. Often, I would self-eliminate from a task or question my capability, but these mentors, with strong conviction, encourage me to try hard and take risks.

The staff and faculty in AEC have opened my mind and heart to future careers and ideas that I never would have imagined. This program has aided in the transformation of my goals and the honing of my passions.

It has been an honor to be associated with this outstanding group of people at the best university. GO GATORS!

Are you part of the AEC Gator alumni family? Be sure to subscribe to our e-newsletter in order to stay up-to-date on current aec news, upcoming events and more!

SUBSCRIBE AT AEC.IFAS.UFL.EDU/NEWS 23 | aec.ifas.ufl.edu

MOLDED THROUGH MENTORSHIP WRITTEN BY ANNIE MUSCATO AND JARRED SHELLHOUSE Courtesy of Annie Muscato

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or Kati Lawson, the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC) has been closely woven into her life, but there is a common thread that seems to pull everything together: mentorship.

As a high school student from Okeechobee, Florida, Lawson was bound and determined to attend Flagler College in Saint Augustine. Yet, her parents, with other intentions, carefully persuaded her to tour the University of Florida (UF). It was on this tour that Lawson met an individual that today she regards as a close mentor. His name was Dr. Ricky Telg, and he still works as a teacher, researcher, adviser and mentor for many in AEC today.

It was the interaction that Lawson and Telg had that guided her to redefine her dream and attend UF for her undergraduate degree.

“I actually chose AEC because of Dr. Telg,” said Lawson. “Basically, I wanted to take any classes he was teaching.”

She found both Telg’s mentorship and expertise invaluable as she considered her future career in journalism. With yet another unexpected turn, Lawson found herself moving back to Okeechobee for a career in teaching, a profession she fell 24 | AEC Review

in love with while educating fifth grade at her local elementary school. She let this newly discovered passion guide her to pursue and obtain a master’s degree from Angelo State University, where she studied education in guidance and counseling.

Telg’s mentorship travels with many of his students, Lawson included, far beyond commencement. One of the ways he does so is by sending out current job postings to his former students.

One such email called Lawson’s attention to a posting for a lecturer in AEC, housed in the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Plant City. While Lawson was intrigued, her first move wasn’t to edit her résumé and draft a cover letter. Instead, she gave her mentor a call.

At the time, Lawson was working as a College and Career Counselor at a local high school, but getting back into the classroom and reconnecting with AEC was especially appealing. It turns out, that phone call with Telg was the push she needed.

Today, Lawson can be found teaching AEC undergraduate students in Plant City, specializing in the communication and leadership development classes.

She strives to teach her students in the same way she was taught.

“Dr. Telg’s biggest strength is that he teaches to the student and not just the curriculum,” she said. “He doesn’t teach all his students the same, but he treats them all fairly.”

Lawson hopes that she can serve as just as much of a mentor and resource for her students in Plant City as she had during her undergraduate career.

“Plant City is unique because I am able to work directly with local industry professionals and then tailor the curriculum to fit local needs,” Lawson said. “I know my students are gaining valuable skills that make them especially equipped to enter the workforce right her in their community.”

Those industry relationships also help her connect students with potential career opportunities upon graduation, just like Telg does for his students, Lawson included.

Kati is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in AEC, specializing in agricultural communication of course, under the continued leadership and support of her mentor and friend, Dr. Ricky Telg.•

Courtesy of Tory Moore

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

WRITTEN BY ANNIE MUSCATO AND JARRED SHELLHOUSE

H

ome. For some people, it is a building that holds memories from growing up. It could be a room, decorated in paintings and tapestries. Others see home as a person.

Perhaps a mother, father, sister or brother that can be reached with a quick dialing of the phone. Home can also be a community of people that one is surrounded by, accompanied by a sense of belonging and value. While many often have more than one “home,” alumna Tory Moore found home in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC).

For Moore, a lot of factors help contribute to her department feeling like home. There was a combination of material specifically relating to agriculture, classes that taught her skills needed by the industry she was interested in, and strong faculty mentorship that made AEC the perfect fit. “[AEC was] like finding your family

when you have been lost in a huge crowd,” Moore said.

Moore graduated from AEC in 2014 with her bachelor’s degree, specializing in communication and leadership development. After she received her degree, she began working for Farm Credit of Central Florida as a marketing coordinator. Today, she is with the same company, but is now the marketing director.

Moore credits her AEC curriculum to helping her develop the ability to be successful in her career.

“Every new job requires you to spend some time gaining an understanding of the expectations of the role,” Moore said, “but the AEC department prepared me so thoroughly with the very specific communication skills needed to do the work that I was really able to hit the ground running.”

Moore has had an unwavering passion for the Florida agricultural industry and the work she does with

Farm Credit, but she said one of the most special parts of her job has been the opportunity to re-connect with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and the students at Plant City.

As a local alum deeply entrenched in the agricultural industry, she meets regularly with Kati Lawson, an AEC lecturer based in Plant City. Together, they identify the practical skills that students need upon graduation to find jobs within their field.

Part of what makes something feel like home is always knowing there is a place to return. Today, Moore works professionally alongside so many of her AEC mentors and continues to use the skills she learned throughout her career in marketing.

Moore still gives her time and talents back to AEC, and knows there is always a “home” to visit within the department. • 25 | aec.ifas.ufl.edu

BELLA DAMIANI Agricultural Education

As a young girl, Bella Damiani grew up in a small beachtown suburb with her family, largely unaware of how the agriculture industry was so rooted in her life. It wasn’t until one of her high school teachers pushed her into research with hydroponics that she uncovered her passion for plants.

My

AEC

STORY

Bella earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, studying horticulture. She spent much of her undergraduate career bouncing between a lab where she conducted research on maize and student organizations such as MOR Meditation Club at UF, Gator Gardening Club, and the Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Club.

As Bella was beginning to wrap up her undergraduate career, she found herself drawn to being an educator. Yet, finding a job as a teacher with a horticulture degree was going to be a bit difficult. That is when Bella discovered the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication and turned her sights on a master’s degree, specializing in agricultural education.

“Through this program I am learning how important agriculture education is,” she said. “Educators are so important, and teachers are struggling personally.”

Recognizing that she comes from a unique background, Bella decided to conduct her master’s research project on the resilience of first-year agriculture teachers in Florida. She is on the path to become a licensed teacher, but Bella is still deciding if her career path will end in a classroom.

“I felt very much like an outcast when I first joined AEC,” Bella said. “I found it hard to relate to others that grew up in agriculture.” As time went on, Bella found that studying resilience of educators is helping her relate to others and find her place.

“Everyone is resilient. Everyone has power. Everyone is strong. I feel like I have a gift that I can help people find that power and that strength and allow them to feel comfortable and love themselves.”

Bella is excited to begin student teaching next spring, especially for the horticulture program with which she has been paired.

She is still trying to find her place where agriculture and education intersect, but she has a clearer picture now than she did before.

“It may not be suitable for me to be an agriculture teacher,” she said. “But, I think my work with resiliency can help other agriculture teachers, and that may be my place.”

26 | AEC Review

WRITTEN BY JARRED SHELLHOUSE

A letter to my freshman self

Courtesy of UF/IFAS AEC Just a few days before graduation, AEC alumna Teresa Suits reflected on her undergraduate experience through a letter to freshman self.

Dear Teresa,

I am proud of the woman you are today, and the adversity you have overcome to reach where you are. In a few days you will graduate from the University of Florida, an accomplishment that you thought would never come. Let me assure you, the next three and a half years will fly by. Little by little, your degree audit will turn from red to black as you complete classes, and adulthood approaches quickly. It’s cheesy to say, but I wish I could go back and tell you a few things…

First and foremost, stop planning your life so strictly, and go live it. I hate to break it to you, but you’re not going to law school immediately after graduation- I know, a huge dent in your perfect plan. Do you even know the reasoning behind wanting to go to law school? Do you actually want to be a lawyer or do you want to please everyone else? Stop limiting yourself to opportunities that complement the life you think you have to have. It’s great to have a plan, but not if it makes you miss out on everything else. Live a little, take a chance, and most importantly, have faith in yourself. I am proof that straying from your plan will not mean the end of the world; instead, you’ll gain a new one, a more exciting one, filled with opportunity and diversity, Instead of having faith in security, have faith in your ability to succeed after failure. You will fail a test, fail a paper, maybe even fail in a friendship at times, but this is all part of life.

The lessons you learn in each individual failure will mold you into a better and more accepting person. Pick

yourself up, and always try again.

Take advantage of all of the opportunities while at UF. Don’t stray from one because it is different or new. Embrace these moments because the things that scare you the most turn out to be the most rewarding.

Most importantly, cherish every moment you spend at UF, especially the little ones. Remember the rush you feel when screaming “Go Gators!” at a football game, and the sense of belonging when singing “We Are The Boys.” Remember the time you ran out of gas on your scooter in the pouring down rain and the freshman struggle of not having a car.

Remember the moments when people were there to support you during your darkest times; they’ll turn out to be your closest and most loyal friends. Remember all of these things and more because you will appreciate them more than you can imagine in the near future.

In a way, I am appreciative that you will never read this. If you could, maybe I wouldn’t have learned these important lessons. Maybe I wouldn’t appreciate the little things as much as I do now. Maybe I wouldn’t be the woman I am today if you hadn’t learned the hard way. I am thankful for my time at UF, and even more thankful for the memories and friendships I will take with me. Congrats on graduating from the greatest university. We did it.

Love,

27 | aec.ifas.ufl.edu

28 | AEC Review