TIFTON—Two Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College students recently received the 2022-2023 Southeast Produce Council Southeast Top Agricultural Recruits Scholarship (STARS) Scholarship.
Lizzy Parks, a senior agricultural communications major from Cochran, and Joel Johnson, a junior crop and soil science major from Rome, were awarded the scholarships.
The STARS program is the Southeast Produce Council’s scholarship program available to outstanding students majoring in agriculture. The mission of the STARS program is to identify the top agricultural majors at participating colleges and to recruit and introduce them to career opportunities in the produce industry.
Each recipient received a $2,500 scholarship to provide financial support in completing an
agricultural-based degree. The program also provided travel and lodging expenses for
recipients to attend the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure Conference in
Orlando, Fla.
Parks serves as the President of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Club, the
Vice-President of Sigma Alpha (a professional agricultural sorority), and is a member of the
ABAC Agronomy Club. She also served as a college ambassador and a reporter for ABAC’s
Stallion TV. She has completed internships with Padilla, National Grazing Lands Coalition
Conference, the Sunbelt Agricultural Expo, and ClicRweight Bovine Solution. She is an
advocate for agriculture and passionate about promoting the sector via public relations,
marketing and communication.
Parks has a background in broadcast journalism and digital media; she’s currently producing
a podcast titled “Listen to the Land.” Her work experience includes a diverse portfolio
focused on sustainability and innovation within agriculture. While serving as a Georgia FFA
State Officer, she received professional facilitation and presentation training. Upon
graduation, she plans to transition to a full-time agricultural communications role.
Johnson works as a research assistant on campus, where he aided in the creation and
management of a project studying soybean charcoal rot. He had an opportunity to present
the findings of his research at the ABAC STEPS Symposium and was awarded second place
for his presentation. In addition to his dedication to this research, he is involved in the
Baptist Collegiate Ministry on campus and plays the bass guitar for the worship band.
Johnson has gained experience working in the agriculture industry as he recently completed
a horticulture internship at Callaway Gardens and worked for Brewer Poultry. His work
experience includes the reintroduction of agricultural sites within Callaway Gardens, and the
establishment of grant research experiments tailored to combating diseases plaguing
agricultural production. His passion for agriculture began when he was a young child helping
his grandfather plant his produce gardens. Today, he sees that passion weaved in his plans
to grow his knowledge and work in agriculture.
Ideal candidates for the scholarship are rising seniors in undergraduate majors related to
the growing and marketing of produce and related products who also hold a minimum 3.2
GPA or higher. Additionally, it is preferred that students have demonstrated an interest in
growing and/or marketing of produce.
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