Passion drives many to do what they love, and that is certainly true for Agriculture Future of America (AFA) alumnus Nick Tarleton. Tarleton’s passion for food and agriculture began at the age of 7 when he lost his maternal grandmother to diabetes, which sparked aspirations to carve out his place in the food industry through a career in food and nutrition.
Now living out his dream to work in the food industry, Tarleton’s passion has shifted to helping high school students in Chicago and college students across the nation — especially those who are underrepresented — find their own careers in food and agriculture. His dedication and servant-leader mindset landed him the 2022 AFA Bridge Builder Award, which recognizes Tarleton’s continued engagement with AFA and service to his career, community and the food and agriculture industry as a whole.