At the Agri-STEM Complex, non-traditional agricultural students are finding a new passion for the food and fiber system. For two LISD students who attend the Talkington School for Young Women Leaders, agriculture opened doors to unforeseen opportunities. 

Amarachi Uche-Eboh, a junior at Talkington, said her family was not involved in agricultural production and she joined FFA hoping to learn about environmental issues.  

“Originally, I wanted to join to learn more about environmental stuff but instead I learned so much more,” Uche-Eboh said. 

With her family being from rural Nigeria, Uche-Eboh has a particular interest in access to resources in under-developed countries. In her project at the Agri-STEM Center, she is working on developing biothermal energy with methane and manure to create an alternative energy source. She describes agriculture as a place where everyone is connected, even if they don’t know it. 

“It can really bring communities together,” Uche-Eboh said. “That’s what I really love about agriculture; everyone is involved.” 

Uche-Eboh said you don’t have to live on a farm or raise animals to be involved in agriculture.  

“If you are wearing clothes right now, you are involved in agriculture,” Uche-Eboh said. 

Hannah Stuart, a senior at Talkington who will be attending Texas Tech University in the fall, said she did not understand how important agriculture was until taking agricultural classes. She also said agriculture has made her feel more connected with the world. 

“The amount of people that are removed from where their food comes from is crazy to me,” Stuart said. 

She described her passion for agriculture’s ability to solve problems in the world and said she wishes more people understood how crucial our natural resources are. 

“It’s such a big part of the world and the economy,” Stuart said. “I just wish people understood the importance of it.” 

Stuart said she chose to work on creating a biodegradable plastic for strawberry plants to work towards creating a more sustainable world with a growing population.  

Both of these students have started projects centered around agricultural innovations and reflect the importance of sustainability to each of them. Despite both accomplishing a multitude of things in their projects, they say their favorite part of the Agri-STEM experience has been visiting Anita Carmona-Harrison Elementary School where their horticulture class set up hydroponic growing towers.  

“The hands-on experience we have is not only teaching us about the plant growth system but also we’re able to serve our local community,” Uche-Eboh said. 

Stuart said watching such young students in pre-kindergarten connect with agriculture is refreshing. 

“We let them go up to the system and take leaves off and eat it,” said Stuart. “It’s just so cool to see the lightbulbs go off.” 

Both Stuart and Uche-Eboh said they have found joy in communicating the importance and connectivity of agriculture to individuals at Carmona-Harrison, no matter their age. 

“We get to educate the younger ones and sometimes even the older ones,” said Uche-Eboh. “Maybe they’ll gain an interest in horticulture or agriculture, and they will come to the Agri-STEM in later years.” 

Cade Millenbine, Lead Writer; Emma Taber, Photo Director; Macey Edwards, Design Coordinator; Rachyl Kitten, Digital and Advertising Manager