Some dream of moving away from home and exploring the big world out there. Some dream of going back home. Abigail Fulton is one of those that wants to go back home.
Abby calls Greensboro home for much of the year as she attends the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. However, home for Abby is in Davidson County. It is there that she wants to go back to and use her degree of Human Development and Family Studies.
“My goal is to return to my hometown in Davidson County to teach kindergarten one day. I want to be able to have a positive influence on young children,” said Abby.
She also wants to obtain a Master’s Degree in Administration so she can hopefully one day become an elementary school principal.
More than her desire to go home and make a difference in the lives of youth is, she also wants to go back home to stay involved with her family’s farm. Her family are fourth generation farmers and have a beef and poultry operation,
“Returning to Davidson County would allow me the opportunity to teach and stay a part of a school system where I grew up and continue to be an active part of my agriculture background,” said Abby.
Abby not only grew up on a farm, but she was also involved in showing livestock. She has shown beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry and goats and did so for almost a decade. Her experiences with showing livestock has taught her lessons of being a good sportsman, leadership, dedication, and teamwork. She uses these lessons with writing papers, working on a group project or presenting a speech in class.
Her proudest moment showing livestock was at the Dixie Classic Fair. Throughout Abby’s show career, she always looked up to her older sister for competitiveness and wisdom. She wanted to achieve the same success that her sister had. At the Dixie Classic Fair, Abby won junior champion showman.
“Even as two young showman at the time, my sister met me at the end of the show ring, hugged me, congratulated me telling me she was proud of me. Earning the respect and support from a sibling you look up to is one of the proudest moments I have had in the show ring,” said Abby.
For Abby, Davidson County and the family that lives there has shaped her into who she is and is also where she sees her future. Abby continues to work towards becoming a teacher in Davidson County through elementary school internships and continues to be involved in FFA activities through her high school with community service projects like Halloween Carnivals, Easter Egg Hunts, and children’s agriculture education exhibits at the county fair. Not only that, but Abby has also started her own private large and small animal pet care sitting service.
Until Abby can return home to teach and impact children’s lives, she is working hard to gain the skills and knowledge needed to be the best teacher she can be.
“I want to use my agriculture background and experiences to teach young children. The lessons I learned growing up are what helped to shape me into the person I am today,” said Abby.
Agriculture and showing livestock impacts youth beyond the days where they are involved and even if they don’t want to be a farmer. Showing livestock impacts youth whether they are destined to be a doctor, lawyer, or teacher. For some, it is also enough to draw you back home. And that is exactly where Abby is headed.
