A family legacy of agricultural studies

Few families exemplify this motto better than the Hancocks. For brothers Guy, Ben and Jarrett, attending UGA-Tifton was a shared experience that launched diverse careers.

As a high school student, eldest brother Guy Hancock was introduced to the Young Scholars Internship Program (YSP), a paid five-week summer internship for high school students interested in agriculture, food and environmental sciences. The program connects students with faculty mentors on UGA’s Athens, Griffin or Tifton campuses, exposing them to agricultural research and career pathways. Guy interned with Ronald Scott Tubbs, a professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, conducting applied agronomic research.

Guy went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in agricultural and applied economics on UGA’s Athens campus, later earning a master’s degree in the same field at UGA-Tifton. As a student, he served as a Congressional Agricultural Fellow for a U.S. senator, gaining real-world experience in federal agricultural policy. After graduation, he was hired as a UGA Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in Turner County. Today, he is an agricultural data scientist in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at CAES and an Extension specialist, working from the very campus that shaped his academic and professional path.

Ben Hancock, who also graduated with honors with a degree in agribusiness, was drawn to UGA-Tifton’s strong academic programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Like his older brother, his journey into the program began with the Young Scholars Program, where he was mentored by Esendugue Greg Fonsah, an agricultural and applied economics professor. Ben’s academic path led him to law school, and he is now an attorney in Tifton.

“The opportunities UGA-Tifton provided for my career were second to none,” Ben said. “The professors, faculty and research scientists on this campus are some of the brightest minds in the state. The faculty helped me at every turn, and my advisors and professors truly cared about me and shaped who I am today.”

Opening a world of knowledge

For Jarrett Hancock, the youngest of the three, watching his older brothers attend UGA-Tifton solidified his aspirations to follow them through YSP as a high school student with a keen interest in precision agriculture.

Now a rising senior at CAES majoring in agriscience and environmental systems with a focus on precision agriculture, he works in the lab of Wes Porter, a professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and Extension precision agriculture specialist.

In addition to his research, Jarrett serves as a UGA-Tifton CAES Ambassador, helping recruit and guide prospective students.

“Pursuing my education while staying engaged in my local agricultural community has given me a front-row seat to the challenges facing local producers today,” he said. “The insight gained has broadened my understanding of the real-life application of precision agriculture and its potential to enhance the sustainability of modern farming.”

Jarrett also was able to study abroad in Uruguay — an experience that expanded his horizons and deepened his understanding of agriculture on a global scale.

Reflecting on the family’s collective experiences, Guy emphasized that earning a UGA degree while remaining connected to their agricultural community enriched their education.

“This balance between local roots and broader opportunities exemplifies how staying close can help one go farther,” he said.

For families like the Hancocks, UGA-Tifton offers more than an education — it provides a launchpad for success close to home.