In our conversation with Zachary Johnson, one of the recipients of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Distinguished Senior Award from The Ohio State University's Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering, he shared insights into his discovery of FABE, his time in the department, and his future endeavors post-graduation. Zachary is a Construction Systems Management Major from New Albany, Ohio.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE FABE?
I love working with my hands and problem solving, but I was unsure if college was the best fit for me. For a while, I was heavily interested in going into the trades, but I felt a college degree would be really beneficial. So, I felt that CSM would be a great path towards a college degree where I could still have a career out in the field, solving problems and working with my hands. I could not be happier with my choice, and although I will be in the Air Force for much of my career, I am still very excited with the possibility of using my degree in the future.
WHAT HAS YOUR UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE?
I have had an amazing experience within the department, and it has led me to make countless friends with both students and lecturers within the college. It has provided me with some great opportunities and I have gained so much knowledge about the field ahead of me.
HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED ON CAMPUS?
I am active in the Air Force ROTC program which involves a significant amount of work and training outside of my academic degree, but it provides me amazing opportunities to build friendships, gain exposure to military life, and build my leadership skills. This has set me up with some really cool experiences like raising the flag at Ohio State Football games (pictured above).
WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES/INTERESTS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM?
Outside of the classroom and the military, I really enjoy being active and playing sports. I frequently play sports like pickleball, racquetball, disc golf, and football with my friends, but I also enjoy just going on runs and lifting. When the weather is nice and I have some down time, I also really like camping and having fires with some friends.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN FABE?
My advice is to get to know the people around you and dedicate yourself to the program. FABE holds some of the smaller academic majors at Ohio State which presents some amazing opportunities for its students. Many of the people you find yourself in class with as an underclassman will be in the same classes with the same lecturers for your entire time at OSU. This can be a great way to connect with people of similar interests and make lifelong friends who can lean on as you work your way through the program. The smaller class sizes also allow you to connect with your teachers, which is be a huge resource towards helping you learn and gain insight to your future career field. Secondly, make sure you dedicate yourself to whatever you do. A lot of people come to college and just go through the motions and do not learn as much as they could. Make sure you are staying focused, going to class, and having a drive to learn. Right now, it may just seem like a grade or a random assignment, but soon what you learn will be used in your everyday life, so make sure to take is seriously.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR AFTER GRADUATION?
Immediately following graduation, I will be commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as an officer and will report to Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi for pilot training. Over the next year and a half, I will be in some of the most challenging yet exciting times of my life, where I will spend over 400 hours in the classroom and 200 hours in the air to earn my pilot wings and become an Air Force fighter pilot.
Congratulations to 2024 CFAES Distinguished Senior Zachary Johnson! We wish you luck going forward.