This week's guest is Ms. Briana Holness. Briana was raised in Enfield, North Carolina. She graduated from Southeast Halifax High School which is where her foundation for agriculture began. Briana’s high school agriculture teacher has instilled so much knowledge in her about the agriculture industry. She completed her undergraduate studies at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina where she received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education (Professional Service) in 2017. She has always had a passion for educating youth in the field of agriculture. Following graduation, she decided to pursue her goal of higher education at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in the Department of Agribusiness, Applied Economics, and Agriscience Education. While attending NC A&T SU, she was appointed the National MANRRS Region II Graduate Vice-President. This position allowed her to see, firsthand, diversity and inclusion in the field of agriculture.  Briana has published her Master thesis entitled “An Assessment of the Impact of MANRRS Involvement Upon the Leadership Development Competence of Chapter, Regional, and National Officers”. She soon after graduated with her master’s degree from North Carolina A&T State University in Agricultural Education (Secondary Education) in May 2019. In November 2018, Briana started working at the high school she graduated from in the area of agriculture which fueled her passion. She enjoys educating the youth of the community she grew up in about agriculture. Students are needed to be exposed to agriculture every day, so they know how to address the crucial needs of the economy. Briana has a son named Braylen who is motivating her day by day to be a great mom, leader and educator. It is a pleasure to educate students in a rural area about leadership, career and personal enhancement within the field of agriculture education.

In this episode, you will learn about: 

- Briana's passion for educating students in an rural area about agriculture education 

- How to balance being a full-time educator and mother 

- The important role that MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) plays in the lives of students seeking careers in agriculture and related sciences

Learn more about MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) : 

Website: https://www.manrrs.org

Research Apprenticeship Program at NC A&T SU:

https://www.ncat.edu/caes/agricultural-research/rap-program.php

*Please note that this program has been canceled this year due to COVID-19*

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*This podcast was recorded earlier this year prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic.