GUSTON, Ky. — Before some of his classmates’ alarms went off, you’d probably find Luke Millay working on his family’s farm before school. 

He's lived and worked on the farm his whole life. At age 9, he started competing in swine showmanship contests and grew to be a big part of his life. 

During his sophomore year of high school, Millay bought a pig and 13 piglets.

“I didn't tell my parents about it. I just came home and I surprised them,” Millay said. 

The investment to fulfill Future Farmers of America’s (FFA) required agriculture experience turned into a business of raising and selling hogs to people in his community.

He sold 53 hogs during the pandemic and is on track to do the same this year.

“I always get so excited to be able to take these hogs off knowing all the work we've put into them, and that, I know that they are a good quality hog that someone's going to enjoy,” Millay said. 

Millay’s business is only one of many successes that he says FFA contributed to. 

“I got to compete in the Kentucky FFA State Convention where I was named the Kentucky State Star Farmer for the 2021 year which is a great honor. It's something I take great pride in,” Millay added. 

He also served as the president of his local and regional FFA chapters. His latest accomplishment is earning a full ride to study agriculture business at Morehead State University. 

“It's a one chance in a million,” Millay said. 

Millay was selected to live on the university’s farm. He'll be hours from the pastures he’s worked on since he was a child, but said it will feel like home. 

“Living in rural America, living in rural Kentucky, and being able to go to college, and still have that same aspect, being able to live out on their farm, all of the great things that I cherish each and every day on my farm, I get to bring that in a little bit of a bigger scale as well when it comes to the pork production but I'm so excited for that,” he said. 

The young farmer is using the opportunity to continue his creed of staying true to traditions and providing quality food to his community.  

“Sustainable agriculture is at the forefront of American agriculture. Being sustainable, being able to provide high quality food with it, whether that is meat, vegetables and other great things that we consume, it's very vibrant,” Millay said. 

He hopes other young adults see the power behind the plow. 

“It's a great way of life, and we need more people to believe in the future of ag, to invest in agriculture because without agriculture, none of us would be where we are today," he said.