Why did you choose your program, and how does your program contribute to your career goals?
I was inspired to pursue sustainable agriculture by a goat farm in Costa Rica. During the summer between my junior and senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to go on a service trip to Costa Rica. On this trip, we volunteered at a sustainable goat farm, and I thought it was the coolest thing. I loved the self-sustaining cycle the farm created and how everything worked together. Goat waste was used to fertilize crops to make animal feed, the goats would produce milk to turn into cheese, then the money made from the products would sustain the family and go back into the farm. This farm made such an impact that I decided to pursue sustainable agriculture.
What's been your favorite course and why?
My favorite course I have taken at UK is Food Ethics (PHI 205). I thought I wasn't going to like the class, but Dr. Sares made it fun and engaging. The class pushed me to think in new ways about agriculture and the society we live in. We had to use philosophical ideologies to justify extreme situations, like how we have a duty to eat garbage. While obviously eating garbage is not good, I enjoyed the challenge of trying to justify it. I had never taken a class that required me to use my brain in that way, so I enjoyed it!
Morgan's Top 3 Places to Eat with Your Parents
- Frank and Dinos: BEST Italian food I have ever had.
- Josie's Restaurant: most amazing pancakes and eggs benedict.
- Carson's Food and Drink: the deep fried cinnamon and sugar buttermilk biscuits are a must try.
Tell us about the city of Lexington. What surprised you? What places/people do you like most?
Something that I love about Lexington is that you get the best of both worlds. You have the city, and with a 15-minute drive in just about any direction, you have miles of green pastures or parks. I love taking my dog to run around at Wellington Dog Park, which is only 10 minutes from campus. While I do love all of the green space Lexington has to offer, I also love the access to stores and shops. Whether I need to go to Kroger for groceries, Michael's for a new craft, or even the mall for a new outfit, Lexington's got it!
What advice would you offer an incoming freshman in the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment?
My advice for incoming freshmen is to be kind to yourself. My freshman year I was really hard on myself. I expected myself to get an A on every assignment, make new friends, learn to live without my parents, and join a million clubs. I quickly realized that it wasn't possible to do everything at once, and instead of changing what I was doing, I tried harder. Soon, it was halfway through the first semester and I was so tired and overwhelmed that I just stayed in my dorm. If I had just been kinder to myself, I wouldn't have missed so many opportunities staying inside. It's okay to get a B on your first exam; you're still learning how to manage everything. You don't have to accomplish everything within the first month of college, you have 4 years to do that.