Tyler Reid was one of 367 “fantastic speakers,” their words, during the 2019 Seeds&Chips Global Food Innovation Summit held in Milan, Italy. The Summit, focused on integrating food and agricultural innovation, provided a global platform for the voices of young people, policymakers, entrepreneurs, NGOs, investors, and opinion leaders from all over the world. Forty-six of the speakers, including Reid, were labeled “Teenovators” (or 19 and younger), a title synonymous with “the voice of tomorrow.” For her one-minute presentation Reid addressed over 30 attendees while discussing her perspective on ag innovation.
A member of MANRRS at UMES, she has been groomed over the last 4 years (three as a part of Jr. MANRRS and 1 at the collegiate level) to be a leader, a public speaker, and most of all to be professional, all while learning the wonders of modern agriculture. Her MANRRS journey has afforded her outstanding opportunities like completing a Borlaug-Ruan International internship in Tainan, Taiwan at The World Vegetable Center and presenting her research at the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa. She has been a member since 10th grade, when she started in Jr MANRRS.
“MANRRS has provided a platform for me to grow and evolve as a young professional in the field of agriculture,” said Reid. “The club has provided me with connections to people and other professionals that will last a lifetime. It has fueled my love for agriculture.”
Reid attributes her success to her Gwynn Park High School advisor Donald Belle and to Danita Matthews and Leasa Gudderra, both science teachers there. On the collegiate level, she credits her success to Stephon Fitzpatrick, recruiter for the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences; Dr. Kimberly Braxton, veterinarian and assistant professor in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences; and to lead development officer Karl Binns Jr., who has been a part of her experience from the beginning. Today, she is a freshman studying general agriculture at UMES.
MANRRS membership is open to all UMES students. The student organization offers many benefits and services to prepare its members for leadership roles in agriculture and related fields. In addition to college students, high school students with an interest in agriculture may contact Binns at kvbinns1@umes.edu to be connected with the chapter nearest them.
“Their voices are crucial to the development of solutions to the global challenges they will inherit. With their choices and efforts, they will help humanity transition to a better food system.” –http://www.seedsandchips.com
