At just 10 years old, Kendall Rae Johnson is redefining what success looks like — with a pair of green thumbs.
The South Fulton fifth grader is the youngest certified farmer in the United States, a title she earned at six through passion, persistence, and a backyard garden that grew into something bigger than anyone expected.
Now Kendall Rae is making history again: she’s been awarded a full-ride scholarship to South Carolina State University—not for sports, but for agriculture.
For her, farming isn’t a pastime. It’s a future.
In Kendall Rae’s world, success doesn’t look like trophies or medals. It looks like sunshine, soil, and the joy of watching something grow. From tending vegetables to caring for animals, she’s proving that dreams can take root anywhere.
“She just wanted to grow,” her mom, Ursula, said. “Once she found her love of growing, that blossomed into what you see today.”
Kendall Rae now leads her family’s farm, even helping her parents manage crops and livestock. “It’s living with the ceiling open,” Ursula said. “We have no idea where we’re going, but we’re just following.”
Her incredible work caught the attention of South Carolina State University’s president, Alexander Conyers, who awarded her the full-ride — usually reserved for athletes. “If I can award scholarships to athletes,” Conyers told her, “I can do the same for an ag scholar.”
Kendall Rae was thrilled. “I’m the first 10-year-old to get a full-ride scholarship!” she said.
Her goal: to one day expand her farm to 100 acres, with longhorn cattle, poultry, and more.
Agriculture is Georgia’s number one industry, and Kendall Rae’s story is sowing inspiration for future farmers, too. As a USDA National Urban Agriculture Youth Ambassador, she’s encouraging kids across the country to chase the same path.
“I want to tell them to keep growing. Keep going. Keep being amazing. You do you!” Kendall Rae said.
Watch the story below:
