Meet Liam Wade. For a lack of a better way to describe him, I’ll say he is simply astonishing in his passion for agriculture. Oh, did I mention he is 17 years old? Yep! A senior in North Pole High School, he is graduating in May of this year, and will move on to University of Alaska Fairbanks to pursue a degree in Agriculture.
After speaking with him, the word Agrarian came to mind, it was so appropriate for him.
Agrarian means relating to land, especially farmland, agriculture, or rural life, describing societies, economies, or political interests centered on farming and cultivation. It emphasizes the importance of agriculture for a community’s support, culture, and structure, contrasting with industrial or urban systems. The term comes from Latin roots meaning “field” and can refer to farming practices, land ownership, or the people involved.
Liam is interested and has been interested in all meanings of being an Agrarian whether he realized it or not. He believes that Alaska is a leading agricultural state in the union because we have more land, we are gaining more land where other states are losing land. He believes that our opportunities to revolutionize agriculture in Alaska are at an all time high.
He is bright, articulate, opinionated, has a great sense of humor, gives presentations all over the state and country about Agriculture in Alaska, he is also very knowledgeable about hydroponics, he grows Kale, Swiss Chard, Lettuce and all kinds of herbs in his school Hydroponic lab.
He is on the school’s cross-country ski and running teams, sits on Kids Voting board, represents the Fairbanks students on the Association of Student Government, active in Future Farmers of America, and he is a student representative on Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board. Somehow, he finds time to even play video games.
He strongly believes that Agricultural farming in Alaska is the future of farming in America. Such passion can only mean good things for Agriculture in Alaska.