LEXINGTON, Ky. – As a Chicago native, Harrison Albright started developing an interest in agriculture while going on family trips when he was young to his mother’s relatives in rural Illinois.

“Her relatives’ homes were surrounded by farms, and a lot of people in the community worked in the agriculture industry,” he said. “Being from the suburbs of Chicago, it was great to be able to get that type of exposure.”

Albright, a University of Kentucky plant and soil science junior, was recently named an Agriculture Future of America ambassador, the only Kentuckian to receive this year’s honor.

“This is a wonderful opportunity,” he said. “The Agriculture Future of America’s ambassador program is a great way to spur outreach, and get students into agricultural programs.”

The Agriculture Future of America is a non-profit organization that prepares and supports college students interested in pursuing agricultural careers. Founded in 1996, it has become a leading organization in the agriculture industry, collaborating with major agribusinesses, universities, and government agencies.

Moreover, the organization offers leadership and career development training, mentorship and networking opportunities to develop the skills and connections required for success in the agriculture industry.

Agriculture Future of America also offers scholarships and internships to help students gain practical field experience.

“I want to let potential students know what type of agricultural opportunities are out there,” Albright said. “It’s not just about farming. I didn’t have much of an agricultural background, however, I’ve always wanted to work in agriculture.”

He said he chose the University of Kentucky because he had moved to Louisville, Ky., going into his junior year of high school, and visited the campus after a lot of recommendations.

“After touring the College of Agriculture, I instantly fell in love with the place, and knew that that was where I wanted to end up,” he said.

To become an Agriculture Future of America ambassador, he said he needed to go through two rounds of interviews.

“I believe that being involved in Agriculture Future of America previously was very beneficial,” he said. “I was fortunately able to attend the 2020 and 2023 Leaders Conferences, as well as the 2021 (Community and Leadership Development) regulatory conference, and the 2022 Crop Science Institute. I feel like that helped me gain an edge over the other applicants.”

When asked what it meant to him to be chosen for an Agriculture Future of America ambassadorship, he said, “I was shocked to attend this year’s Agriculture Future of America leaders conference and realize I was the only Kentucky student, even though we are a major land grant university.

“That inspired me to apply to become an Agriculture Future of America ambassador, and reach out to others on my campus to get them involved,” he said.

“I am required to attend two institutes outside of the leaders conference next year,” he added. “My goal is to try and attend the food institute in Chicago, Ill., over the summer, as well as the technology institute in New Orleans, La., next spring.”

He said the best thing about Agriculture Future of America is there are institutes that are small and well-connected, “and you can find one that suits your interests. Hopefully, that means that I will also bring others to these institutes as well, and help them find their connections and interests as well.,

Alongside his ambassadorship, he is also a member of the UK Club swim team, as well as the vice president of the UK Club Water Polo team; president-elect of the College of Agriculture’s Agricultural Student Council; and a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

“All these activities certainly keep me busy,” he said. “I will be working at an internship this summer for an agricultural chemical company. I was able to have this opportunity, thanks to the strong contacts I met through attending Agriculture Future of America conferences.”

As for his career plans, he said, “My main goal is to pursue research and development careers that will hopefully give me the knowledge base to springboard a seed technology company of my own.

“I have been able to do research and develop relationships with a lot of my professors and other students on campus,” he said. “I even worked on the oil content of hemp seeds last year in a lab that I felt taught me a lot about the inner workings of a research facility.

“I feel that the education I received both in the classroom and learning to collaborate with people in organizations like the Agricultural Student Council, where I am the president-elect, has taught me a lot, and will prepare me for the future.”