A ten-year-old certified farmer in Georgia has become the first child to earn a full-ride college scholarship for farming.
Most children today spend hours playing video games, watching TV, or staring at their phones. As parents, we might think that’s just what kids do at their age.
This inspiring ten-year-old girl has proved us all wrong and shown us how God uses our little ones for greater purposes.
A Certified Farmer at Age 6
Meet Kendall Rae Johnson from South Fulton. This little girl became the youngest certified farmer in our entire country when she was just six years old.
Can you imagine that? While other kids her age were learning to tie their shoes, she was learning to grow vegetables and care for farm animals in her backyard.
How Her Farming Journey Began
Her journey started simple. She wanted to grow things in her family’s backyard garden. Her mother Ursula watched her daughter’s passion bloom.
“She just wanted to grow,” Ursula said. “Once she found her love of growing, that blossomed into what you see today.”
Now Kendall Rae leads her family farm. She helps her parents manage their crops and livestock. Her family follows her lead in this farming adventure.
“It’s living with the ceiling open,” Ursula explained. “We have no idea where we’re going, but we’re just following.”
Kendall Rae Receives a Unique Scholarship
The president of South Carolina State University heard about this remarkable young farmer.
Alexander Conyers made a decision that shocked everyone. He gave Kendall Rae a full-ride scholarship to his university. This scholarship covers everything: tuition, fees, room and board.
Here’s what makes this even more special. These scholarships usually go to athletes. But President Conyers had a different idea.
He told Ursula that if he can give scholarships to athletes, he should be able to do the same thing for “an ag scholar.”
Kendall Rae was so excited when she heard the news. “I’m the first 10-year-old to get a full-ride scholarship!” she said with pure joy.
Fifth-Grader Has Bigger Dreams
The fifth-grader’s dreams reach far beyond her current garden. Kendall Rae wants to expand her farm to 100 acres. She plans to raise longhorn cattle and poultry on her land.
But here’s what makes Kendall Rae truly special. She doesn’t just want to grow her own farm. She wants to help other children start their farms too.
Inspiring Other Children to Farm
Kendall Rae works as a USDA National Urban Agriculture Youth Ambassador. Her job is to encourage kids across our country to apply for farming scholarships.
Her message to other young people comes straight from her heart. “I want to tell them to keep growing. Keep going. Keep being amazing. You do you!” Kendall Rae said.
Agriculture is Georgia’s number one industry. Kendall Rae’s story shows other children that farming can be their future too.
What a blessing to see a young person discover her calling so early in life. We appreciate her parents for supporting her dreams.
As parents and grandparents, we all should help our children love nature and encourage them to grow things with their own hands.
We thank God for all the farmers who feed our families every day.
WATCH: Meet Kendall Rae Johnson, the Youngest Certified Farmer in America
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