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UA freshman Shelby Humbarger shows off her passion for agriculture

Posted at 6:23 AM, Aug 30, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-30 09:30:33-04

TUCSON, Ariz. — Shelby Humbarger, from Mayer, Arizona, is proud to call herself a Wildcat. She has won 10 scholarships and is majoring in agricultural technology management and education with an emphasis on teaching. But her resilience is what's said to have gotten her to this point.

"I did lose my parents. My mom in 2012 and my dad in 2015. I believe that they're passing did help make me the person I am today and it helped me look at the positive side of things," said Humbarger.

Having that positive outlook and having friends and family in her corner, her love and passion for agriculture soon sparked.

"My freshman year in high school, I was enrolled into the AG program. It was kind of like, I didn't know I wanted to be in AG,” said Humbarger.

But after getting involved in Future Farmers of America, she was sold.

"I got hooked on to FFA and agriculture, in general, and it really helped me boost into becoming the person I am today. And I wanted to give back that way,” sad Humbarger.

Since agriculture played a big role in shaping who Humbarger is today, she wants to pay it forward. She is setting her sights on becoming an ag teacher; and she thanks her loved ones for cheering her on and helping her reach her goals.

"My support system, I literally don't know what I would do without them. My teachers in high school or even my aunt and uncle, or my best friend Nicole and her family, which I dearly miss so much. She's in Phoenix. Without them I don't think I'd be even like, here. Because its just a good thing to have that support system,” said Humbarger.

Through Humbarger's life experiences, she's learned to push through challenges. And she said, her positivity and her passion to teach make her ready for her journey at UA.

"I'm still Shelby and I am still who I am no matter what my background is or what my story is," said Humbarger.