Joseph Evans, III: African Americans in Agriculture Spotlight Series
Week four and you’re still with me! YAY!
Meet Joseph Evans, III, a veterinary technician with a passion for rescuing and saving the lives of dear animals.
Joseph, tell us, what does Agriculture mean to you? How does it affect your everyday life?
Agriculture is life. Without Ag, we would cease to exist in life. Agriculture is a part of life that seems to be often overlooked. Based on it, it provides food for billions of people. Daily. If you think about your appetite and how many times you eat in one day, you begin to realize how much food truly needs to be produced to support such an exponential number of lifeforms. To me, agriculture is a way of life that needs to be understood from the soil and its health by producing certain food items, including livestock. If agriculture were taken more seriously and understood better by people of all classes and races, it would genuinely make the world a better and more efficient place to live.
Give us some background. How did you get into agriculture? What was/is your agricultural inspiration or influence?
I did not get into Agriculture. Agriculture got into me. I have always had an innate respect and love for nature. Growing up in Fifth Ward Houston, TX, there were not many options. We did not have toys galore or video games, so they stayed in the house and did create chores or go outside. The way that the soil or grass felt on your barefoot. Crawling under the place to discover a new world of insects and bugs. Following doodlebugs (spelled and pronounced “DooDoo” Bugs where I came from) and watching them work with other creatures. That was where my love for agriculture came from. I used to help my grandmother with her rose bush and the small garden that she planted. I loved to rake the pecans when they fell. My favorite tree ever would have to be the Magnolia because of its smell and beautiful flowers. After watching Steve Irwin risk his life for years, my love transferred over to saving and rescuing animals. That became my primary mission in life. In the present, my inspiration, I would say Steve and a friend that I will refer to as PJM. The love, work, and dedication that I see PJM pour into agriculture daily is nothing short of unique and inspiring--- a real silent force that drives me and the entire world of Ag.
What is your favorite part about what you do?
I love animals. Plain and simple. The way in which they operate and function in life. How they give love and receive love is intriguing as well. In most cases, animals end up in horrible predicaments because of human beings. In many instances, intentionally, but in many cases, unintentionally, just because of how people are destroying the earth and the ecosystems around them. Indirectly and directly, we all cause suffering to the creatures we share this planet with. To help mend and eliminate some of those issues play a huge role in why I love what I do.
What is it like being an African American in Agriculture in today’s society?
Being an African American in this field is layered like being an African American in any other facet of society is. You just have to learn to navigate and show that you are more than what you are labeled or confined to. As a male, you may be restricted to the heavy lifting at your respective workplace, but be brave enough to show your brain muscles and power as well. As women, you may be deduced to not being strong or smart enough. Continue to do the dirty work and show otherwise. Continue to go against that grain and stigma and show your brilliance, especially on the days that you do not feel like it. It can be taxing, but it is very fulfilling to be Black and in Ag. It is gratifying.
Looking at the number, many statistics show that African Americans in Agriculture has declined drastically over the years. What are some ways we can reverse this trend?
Just continue to figuratively and plant the seeds---of life and agricultural production. Black history in Agriculture runs so deep. Continue to uncover that history and inject that into the youth of today. Show them that it is not so grandiose that it cannot be achieved over and over again. There is pride in being apart of Agriculture.
What words of encouragement or advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career in Agriculture?
Go for it. Get dirty and stick with it. Spread that love abroad. Find a mentor(s) and hitch yourself to them. Learn, learn some more, and then become the teacher. But also be wise enough to know that you will never know everything when it comes to Agriculture because of the science element. And that truly is the beauty of it. There are so many sectors of it and so much help needed to keep it afloat and make it better.
Any additional words you’d like to share?
Thank you for thinking enough of me even to want to pick my brain. Thank you for reading this through. I hope that you continue to be a driving force within Agriculture. From knowing you, it is rich and deep within your blood. You feel it pulsating within you daily. Keep going, keep flowing.
Joseph Evans, III
Veterinary Technician
Houston, TX
Email: jetrae1123@gmail.com
IG: @higherlxng
