Alumni Spotlight: Nick Adams provides opportunities to underrepresented students

Background Insights

Nick Adams, an LSU College of Agriculture Alum, takes a different approach to educating the next generation. Although, the goal of agricultural education in the school system is to lead students into a career path in the agricultural industry, Adams understands that not all students will go into the industry and prioritizes educating emerging consumers.

Adams graduated from the LSU College of Agriculture in 2016 with a B.S in Agricultural and Extension Education. He credits the College of Agriculture and the Agriculture Education department for motivating him and providing experiences to lead him to his future career.

Adams believes that the department broadened horizons for him as a student. He was able to gain hands-on experiences through his student teaching semester at Lakeview High School under the guidance of Dr. Eric Smith. During this semester, he vowed to become a sponge and absorb as much as he possibly could. He was able to see what things worked in an agricultural education setting.

Growth Program

Adams reflects daily on the beginning of his program at Franklin High School to where it is now. He believes that agriscience within the public school system is imperative to bridge the gap between producer and consumer. As an agriscience teacher and FFA advisor, Adams strives to mold informed consumers out of his students. With his students, Adams works on Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) projects. Many of his students are able to show hogs through the school. He also gives students the opportunity to work hands-on in greenhouse facilities, and lets students experience work with layer and broiler hens. Not only do students get out-of-classroom experiences, but students also learn about the agricultural industry within the classroom. First-year agristudents also get to participate in a DNA strawberry lab to learn about DNA in a cell and observe it in its physical appearance.

Adams hopes to provide experiences for his students that he never had growing up. For instance, showing livestock. He has given students opportunities to show hogs at no cost, providing experiences to underrepresented students.

“It’s hard for people in the livestock world who have been around this their whole life to understand there are people who can’t do this. They may want to, but they just can’t afford it.” Franklin FFA turns heads whenever they enter shows because there are very few Black families in Louisiana who show livestock. Adams expresses that “the color of their skin has been a barrier in some ways, but we’ve been welcomed by so many. I’m grateful, and it brings me to tears every time somebody wants to come hug these kids when we show up to a show. I don’t know what it feels like to look different compared to everybody else when you walk into a show, and while I can’t really attest to it personally, I know it exists.”

Adams says one of the best things he has ever done in his life is provide his students with the experience to show livestock. A large part of showing livestock is financial management, compounded by the fact that Adams is the sole ag teacher in this program. He is able to have an open book policy with student officers and listen to their input on where their money should be applied. Agriscience classes and FFA chapters are meant to be a student-lead organization. Adams allows students to take a major part in creating budgets, planning events, and FFA chapter activities.

Ag Teachers Wisdom

When asked what makes an agriscience teacher, Adams answer is very simple:

“Persistence, vision, relationships, and having the heart of a champion - Four things that make a great Ag Teacher.” Adams continues, “… agriculture is so much more than cows, plows, and sows, and we need to promote these other agricultural jobs to students that are needed to feed the 9.7 billion people that are going to inhabit Earth by 2050.”

Although things may be running smoothly now for Mr. Adams, it wasn’t always an easy path to get to this point. He has had to figure out what works and what doesn't and adjust from there. He has come to learn that you will mess up whether you work hard or not. It is a part of life, but taking that lesson and learning from it is the most important thing.

“You’re going to mess up. Learn from your experiences and know yourself- strengths and weaknesses- and use those to your advantage. Even when things are difficult and do not seem to be going your way, keep pushing. Success will not happen overnight.”

I've been super blessed with some incredible students who have done some really great things with their leadership skills, and I am looking forward to the future and to continue to grow.

Nick Adams