By Jessica Williams
Agriculture is more than a field of study — it’s a responsibility grounded in culture, community and care for the environment. For Stella Hardin, that belief has guided her journey at NC State University and continues to shape her future.
Hardin, an agricultural science major with concentrations in animal science and biological and agricultural engineering technology and a minor in extension education, is among more than 800 students from NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to graduate this May. Raised in a rural Native community as a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, her path into agriculture was shaped early by the values instilled through her upbringing.
“I have always deeply cared about animals, the environment and sharing how important agriculture is to sustainability,” Hardin said. “Growing up, I was taught to respect Mother Nature — and that if you care for the earth, it will care for you.”
That foundation sparked her early interest in agriculture, from learning traditional growing techniques to understanding the medicinal role of herbs. Today, she sees agriculture as essential not only to survival, but to strengthening communities and preserving cultural knowledge.
As the undergraduate student speaker for the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, Hardin stressed to her fellow graduates the important role of agriculture, from food security to economic impact and the need to develop innovative, resilient practices as global demand evolves.
Source : ncsu.edu