Ryan Kornegay is an agriculturalist and son of the soil at heart. Growing up on a very small farm and with the expertise of his grandparents, he understood the importance of being a steward of the land and recognizing how that stewardship leads to reaping great harvests. He went on to pursue his interests in the field of Agriculture by earning his BS degree in Food Science from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). There, his experiences led him to understanding more of the political, social, scientific, and policy driven interconnections of Agriculture.

Ryan was also a USDA Scholar during his time at FAMU, affording him internship opportunities with the department. With a passion for educating others about the endless possibilities within agriculture, Ryan went on to earn his MS degree from Purdue University in Agricultural Sciences Education & Communications. There, he worked with a number of programs with a focus on educating youth and communities about agriculture. His Thesis research focused on using experiential and authentic learning theories to explore diverse rural students’ interest and concerns of the food system after participating in a virtual Agri+STEM curriculum that he developed. He is driven to make agriculture exciting for others and help them to recognize how food can bring us all together by working towards a more equitable system for all.