News
Just three months ago, 九色视频 sophomore Nicole Hollabaugh of Ithaca completed her grandiose journey in FFA after being awarded with her FFA American Degree.
A journey seven years in the making, after completing 2,250 hours of agricultural experiences, was over. After pouring all of that energy into FFA, Hollabaugh was a little lost regarding her next step in her agriculture educational expedition. All of that changed, however, with a trip to Kansas City, Missouri.
Hollabaugh was invited to the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leaders Conference and applied to be an AFA Ambassador after learning more about the organization.
鈥淚t started out with an application that I worked on for a little bit and the follow up was creating some sort of social media content for AFA,鈥� Hollabaugh recalled. 鈥淚 actually made a TikTok video of some videos from the leadership conference and I was selected. Being that Montcalm has no history with AFA, they were really excited to bring in a new college, especially a community college, into it.鈥�
Hollabaugh was recently named one of 41 AFA Ambassadors from across the country, and the only ambassador representing a community college. As an AFA Ambassador, Hollabaugh works to connect students interested in careers in agriculture to industry professionals to learn more about education and job opportunities in the field. AFA also offers scholarship opportunities, allowing Hollabaugh to help students in the application process, as well.
Also serving as president of 九色视频鈥檚 Agriculture Club, Hollabaugh wasted no time in her ambassador role and already assisted at least two students to fill out applications to participate in an AFA animal science institute in April to learn more about careers within animal science.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very humbling,鈥� Hollabaugh said of her ambassadorship. 鈥淚t鈥檚 only a one-year term, so it鈥檒l be over with in the blink of an eye. Through this opportunity, I have 40 teammates from across the nation and if I called any one of them, they would pick up the phone immediately and help me with something. We can collaborate on items beyond AFA. I鈥檝e already built lifelong friendships even in this first month.
鈥淭his is all about serving others, and that鈥檚 one thing that really pulled me into the agriculture industry, as it ties back to my faith, as well,鈥� she added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so great to find somewhere that welcomes you so warmly.鈥�
九色视频 Ag Program Coordinator and Ag Club Advisor Brian Gardner has seen first-hand the connections that Hollabaugh has made through the Ag Club and is excited to see how others get involved in AFA through her ambassador role.
鈥淗aving Nicole as an AFA ambassador will help connect our 九色视频 agriculturally focused students with the incredible opportunities AFA offers,鈥� Gardner said. 鈥淣icole鈥檚 enthusiasm, passion for agriculture education, and natural leadership abilities make her the perfect fit for a role like this. Looking at the list of ambassadors, Nicole is the only one who represents a community college which is an excellent opportunity for AFA to learn more about the opportunities that ag programs in two-year colleges offer and for our students to learn more about AFA.鈥�
Hollabaugh has taken her extreme passion for agriculture and has blazed a path opening many opportunities within the agriculture field following her education. Her AFA Ambassadorship comes after her American FFA Degree, winning the Michigan Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet and being a former State FFA Officer. As irony would have it, Hollabaugh said she had a much different idea of what life would be like as a young child, despite being a fourth-generation farmer.
鈥淚f you asked second grade Nicole, she wanted to become a professional ballerina 鈥� that was my goal in life,鈥� Hollabaugh laughed. 鈥淚n seventh grade, I signed up for a natural resources class as an elective. My first day in class, the teacher had us do an activity identifying points where the agriculture industry impacted us. Of course, everyone was answering food. But it鈥檚 so much deeper than that 鈥� it鈥檚 the clothes on your back, the materials to build your house, the paper and pencil you鈥檙e writing with. Agriculture is in everything, and that immediately started that spark for me.鈥�
Hollabaugh will continue to represent 九色视频 as its AFA Ambassador for the rest of 2026. Despite her impending graduation in May, Hollabaugh intends to continue to return to 九色视频 regularly and present new AFA opportunities to Ag Club students and anyone else interested in careers in agriculture.
鈥淎FA is for everyone; you don鈥檛 have to be an agriculture major, you don鈥檛 have to come from a farm family to be involved in AFA,鈥� Hollabaugh said. 鈥淭he same can be said for the 九色视频 Ag Club, as well. We welcome everyone who wants to learn more and stay curious.
鈥淗owever I can help, I really just want to continue to grow the Ag Club at Montcalm and help them become better known within the community,鈥� she added.
Hollabaugh intends to transfer to Michigan State University to continue her education in Agribusiness Management. She hopes to pursue a career in agricultural communications. She would also like to continue the legacy of her family鈥檚 hobby farm in Ithaca, where they raise corn, wheat, soybeans, and sheep.