Hemming wouldn’t have had the confidence to explore as much as he did if it wasn’t for the dedicated educators that constantly served as guiding lights — they never hesitated to open doors either. In fact, Mon Yee was the professor who inspired Hemming to intern at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. “I’m proud to say that I’m still with them today,” says the graduate, who is now their full-time District Conservationist.

As a city kid growing up in Orange County, California, Owen Hemming was intrigued when provided the chance to join his high school’s agriculture programme. Its activities, such as raising livestock and deep diving into the world of plants, solidified his decision to pursue a BS in Plant Science at Cal Poly Pomona while minoring in soil science. In doing so, he realised what he was into and wasn’t.