A Crown and a Calling

By Ashlin Austin

Not many college students can say they’ve juggled classroom assignments with media interviews, farm visits and a royal title — but that’s just another day in the life of NC State University’s own North Carolina Watermelon Queen.

For Haylee Davis, a senior majoring in agricultural education with a minor in horticulture, agriculture is more than a career path, it’s a calling. Set to graduate in the fall of 2025, she’s made it her mission to educate, advocate and inspire the next generation of agriculture enthusiasts, just as her mentors once did for her.

 Davis’ journey started in high school through the FFA, where she discovered her passion for leadership and agricultural advocacy.

“I took every agriculture class my school offered — not just because I loved the content, but because I had incredible teachers,” she says. “ They saw something in me before I saw it in myself. Their encouragement is a huge reason I chose agricultural education.”

That decision has grown into much more than a degree path. During her time at NC State, Davis has immersed herself in student life and service. From leading the  FFA Alumni and Supporters at NC State club as president to joining the Horticulture Club and the university’s chapter of Ducks Unlimited, her campus involvement reflects her drive to make a difference.

But her advocacy doesn’t stop there.

As the 2023-24 North Carolina Watermelon Queen, she served as the face of the state’s watermelon industry, traveling across North Carolina and beyond to connect with growers, educate consumers and promote local agriculture. She even had the chance to represent the state’s farmers on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

“Balancing my coursework with the responsibilities of the crown wasn’t always easy,” she admits. “But my professors, especially Associate Professor Joy Morgan and Professor Travis Park were incredibly supportive and understanding. They’ve been instrumental in helping me manage both roles.”

That support extends beyond logistics. Faculty like Michael Parker, associate professor in the Department of Horticultural Science, have also played an inspirational role. Currently enrolled in HS 421(Temperate-Zone Tree Fruits: Physiology and Culture), Davis says Parker’s hands-on approach to teaching and his “willingness-to-learn” mindset, even after decades in the field, demonstrates the kind of educator she strives to be one day.

“One thing he says often is that he doesn’t mind planting a trial that ends up with a few dead trees. Because without failure, there’s no opportunity for growth,” she says. “That’s stuck with me.”

Davis’ studies in the classroom and her focus in agricultural and extension education have broadened her knowledge of the industry and helped her discover a passion for agricultural communications, an area she was able to deeply explore through her marketing work with the North Carolina Watermelon Association.

As she moves forward, she sees herself teaching agriculture at the high school level in North Carolina, following in the footsteps of the mentors who changed her life. But she’s also keeping the door open to future opportunities that blend her interests in advocacy, creativity and connection.

“As long as I’m working in agriculture and making a difference — whether it’s in a classroom, through communications or something I haven’t even thought of yet — I know I’ll be fulfilled.”

From student to queen to future educator, Davis’ story is a testament to the transformative power that agricultural education can have — and to mentors who believe in their students long before they believe in themselves.

This post was originally published in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences News.