Before her freshman year in high school, Taylor Young had never considered an agriculture-based career.
Now, headed to her freshman year at Missouri State University, she's planning to major is plant science or ag education.
Overseeing her four overflowing beds of strawberries in the front yard of her childhood home has given her an appreciation for the cycle of agriculture and also a personal confidence.
"Stepping out of her comfort zone when I started has really paid off," Young said.
She started with two beds and two varieties - a June-bearing and an ever-bearing. Eventually, she added three more beds and another variety - the All Star - which is her favorite for its sweet taste.
Through her years in the Russellville High School FFA Chapter, the strawberries also served as her Supervised Agricultural Experience project.
The second summer she was able to picked enough strawberries to sell fresh and also preserve as jam for gifts.
"(Her family) though I'd be tired of strawberries in a couple of summers," Young said. "I consider it a success I'm able to still enjoy it."
She has learned the spring weather makes a big difference on yield. For example, this year's cold spring pushed the bloom dates back a few weeks.
Referring to her annual garden journal, she can compare year to year.
Soon to mature fruit, Young's plants may
produce as much as a gallon-per-day for up to three weeks.
Young has dealt with slugs and leaf roller bugs. And unknowingly, she thwarted box turtles by building raised beds with railroad ties.
"I'd come out and find them on their backs because they can't climb," she said.
This year, she was a member of the FFA chapter's agronomy team, which required her to study 100 weeds from seed to bloom - like the pesky vine weed that creeps into her strawberry beds.
"When I pull up weeds now, I examine them to see if I can identify it," Young said.
Not one for science when in middle school, Young said she now enjoys seeing science in action, like when her father's honey bees pollinate her strawberry blooms.
"Seeing it in real life, actually at work, makes more sense than reading from a textbook," she said.
Now, mostly through word-of-mouth, she has several customers already anticipating strawberries from her garden.
Most people only want a couple of quarts, and when the fruit comes on, there's a lot all at once.
When Russellville held a weekly farmer's market, she would bring her jam.
In her fourth season, Young knows she can freeze the fruit and make jam with it later, when the yield is faster than the sales.
Since the beds are established, maintenance is inexpensive. She makes a little profit on the venture.
But what she enjoys most is simply the fresh strawberries.
"I've always liked fruit," Young said. "If I can grow my own, that's even better.
"If I want strawberries, I can walk out my front door and have some."
Both of her grandmothers kept gardens, including strawberry beds, she remembered.
"I've realized it's worth the time to grow your own things; I can't even eat strawberries from the store anymore."