Brooke Vanzant, 19
Student, 2022-23 Miss Georgia Forestry
Employer: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Lives in: St. Marys
Professional responsibilities: Being a student who majors in agricultural education and a voice for the agricultural industry in Georgia
Accomplishments/Honors: Miss Georgia Forestry 2022; All-Star Athlete 2021; FFA Day at Georgia State Capital 2022; Senator of Agriculture and Natural Resources for ABAC’s Student Government Association 2022-23
Community Involvement: FFA Alumni Member and member of Kingsland First Baptist Church
Why did you go into your particular field? Agriculture was something never thought I would be a part of. During COVID-19, I was a current junior/rising senior in high school at Camden County High School. I knew that I needed to pick a career that I could rely on if the world ever shut down again. I decided to be a veterinarian and attend ABAC to earn my degree in animal science before attending UGA to receive my doctorate in veterinarian medicine. Tyler Murray is good friend with my family and told my dad I needed to take his FFA class to start preparing for college. I told him there was no way I was going to take a class about farming because I’m not a farmer. Yet, my first day of my senior year of high school, I somehow ended up in his class. Little did I know I would fall in love with all things FFA and agriculture related. Two months after starting school at ABAC, I decided to change my major to agriculture education with the goal of being a high school agriculture teacher. Taking that FFA class was the best thing that ever happened to me, and let me to finding my passion in life.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Growing up I was super athletic. In high school I was on the cross country team, swim team, and track team. I thought I would attend college on a cross country scholarship and major in sports journalism. I always loved watching the sports broadcasters on ESPN and grew up around sports broadcasting due to my grandfather, J.C. Outlaw, “The Voice of the Cats”. I loved every moment I got to spend in the press box at Wildcat football games on Friday night.
What was your first job? Being a student has always been my first job. I’ve been blessed to have two amazing people who support me with everything I do. I’ve always been overly involved with school clubs, church events, and sports that I’ve never had time for a job. My parents have allowed me to be a student first, and I’m truly grateful for that.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make you paths straight.” - Proverbs 3:5-6
Knowing that God has a plan for me has truly helped me in my hardest times. I’ve struggled with lots of things – school, sports, pageants, etc. There’s been times where I want to give up and move on, but I don’t. I keep pushing because I know God has a plan for me and trusting in him keeps my heart and mind at ease.
What’s your favorite thing about your job? The students. While I’m not a teacher yet, I have met so many students that have allowed me to be me and to share my passion with them. The K-5 students are always curious about the animals and have a list of questions including “Does my basketball and my hamburger come from the same cow?”
The middle school students are the ones just really starting to understand the concept of agriculture and the purpose behind it.
And the high school students are the ones with the passion to compete at different CDEs, LDEs, livestock events, and more.
All the students have a drive for something in agriculture. They have allowed to me to grow, fail, success, cry, laugh, and most of make an impact on not only them but me as well.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? It’s not easy, but it’s so rewarding. There has been so many days where I want to give up. There’s been times I sit in my college classes and say, “Why do I need this for my Ag Ed degree?” Yet thanks to my amazing professors, students, Ag Ed teachers, friends and family, they help keep me going. I love sharing new knowledge with people and being a mentor for so many. There’s so many people that don’t understand the agriculture industry and the importance it has on the state of Georgia. From creating my platform “Youth In Ag” to being able to lobby for agriculture education at the Georgia State Capital. These days are long and hard yet rewarding when you see the impact you’re making on the people around you.
Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My high school ag teachers, Tyler Murray and Haley Teston. They have been there for me during the happy parts of my life and the sad parts of my life. When I decided to change my major the ag ed, they were the first two people I called to tell me no don’t do it (and, well, they didn’t tell me no). The impact these two people have on me is so deep and they’ll never know how much they truly mean to me. From Mr. Murray getting me started in FFA and Mrs. Teston for guiding me through my life at ABAC. They have shown what it truly means to be a teacher, friend and mentor to me. I’m goal is to hopefully one day be as great of an ag Teacher they are.
When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I love to spend time with my cow, Spots. She loves all types of bread, neck scratches, pop tarts, and belly rubs. She is a sassy thing but she always makes me smile.
What is something about you that most people don’t know? I’ve only been a part of the agriculture industry for three years! Compared to most people I go to school with, I’m still new to the world of agriculture. Most people have been a member of FFA since they were in sixth grade, grew up on a farm, or worked on a farm for years. Then there’s me who didn’t join FFA until my last year in high school. During the last three years I’ve been blessed to have gone to the Georgia State Capitol four times, create my platform “Youth In Ag” (which teaches the younger generation about the agriculture industry and advocates for agriculture education) and help/compete in multiple FFA competitions.
How do you hope to grow in your career? I hope to keep advocating and learning more about the agriculture industry in Georgia. You learn something new every day, and I have such a strong passion for this industry. An industry that feeds you is worth fighting for. I hope to meet more farmers, lobby even more for agriculture/agriculture education, and finally one day get that high school ag class I’ve been dreaming of.
If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? Honestly, I would be lost in life. I tell my high school ag teachers every time I see them how if I would have never taken their classes I would probably be in a cardboard box somewhere lost and confused with my life. I’m grateful for the two of them has they have opened a door of endless possibilities for me and guided me through this journey.