After I graduated high school I spent the summer working on the farm. We put up a large section of fence, baled hay, and took care of the cows. I had a feeling it would be the last summer that I could devote entirely to the farm, and turns out I was right.
In August of 2009 I started college at Tennessee Technological University in the School of Agriculture. I got hired as a student worker at Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion. I also had the opportunity to live in an apartment there. My first two semesters I took 18 and 17 hours, focusing my studies on all the Ag classes I could get myself into. I joined every club I could find. By the summer of 2010, I knew most of the people in the School of Agriculture;
Summer 2010 I had the wonderful opportunity to work as a Summer Park Ranger with the Corps of Engineers on Dale Hollow Lake. It was a great job and experience. I decided I had found my calling, and applied for a Co-Op position that would lead to full time employment with them. Turned out that was one of them moments where God decides the has plans for you that differ from your perfect plans, and I did not get hired. Turns out that was a blessing in disguise.
Fall 2010 I ventured back to Tech, this time in an apartment of my own. Back in the summer I parted with the Pavilion to pursue a career with the Corps. I took a few less hours at fifteen, and really enjoyed my time at Tech.I managed to piece together three semesters of all ag classes. I used my extra free time to become even more involved on campus, and that was one of the best things I ever did. All I know to say to anyone who is in or starting college is to do everything you possibly can. I promise you will never regret something you did, but will regret the things you didn't do.
Summer 2011 I did an internship with the Tennessee Farmer's Co-Op. While the Corps of Engineers job was fun, working with farmers at the CO-Op was fulfilling. I rotated through all the various departments in the Co-Op, and learned a tremendous amount about the retail side of agriculture. That summer Amanda and I got married and moved into my grandfather's house back on the farm.
When I first started working down at my grandfather's farm in high school, I fell in love with the place. I knew someday I was going to move back there. I had the opportunity to achieve this dream, and it has been a true blessing to live where we live.
Once again, I thought I had found my calling with the Co-Op. I was going to graduate college and try to find a job with them in their manager training program. Once again in October 2011 God decided a change of plans was needed. A position with the Clay County Soil Conservation district had opened up in my hometown of Celina. I applied for the position, and got it! Mark another one off the bucket list.
Growing up, I watched nearly every smart, talented person in school leave Clay County and never come back. Our rural county has been hit hard by the recession, and seems to be getting worse every day. Early on Amanda and I decided that we were going to leave, get an education and some worldly experience, and bring it all back to Clay County. We want to help my local community.
I started working full time with the Soil Conservation department in October 2011. I did some juggling in my college schedule and managed to keep my full load of 15 hours. I would work 8 hours, then head to Cookeville where I would stay late every night. Spring 2012 I managed to get an all online schedule of 15 more hours. I completed all my classes and graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor's of Science in Agriculture with a Concentration in Agricultural Engineering. I graduated with a G.P.A. of 3.62.
I had an awesome job and was back home on the farm full time. Life was and is great. That was when my real education started.
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