I am Harrison VanDeWalle, a second-generation apple farmer living and working in Alton, NY, where I help run my family's vertically integrated apple farming operation, VanDeWalle Fruit Farm. We grow over 1200 acres of fresh fruit apples, store them up to a year in controlled atmosphere conditions, and then pack them for a distributor.

I returned to the farm after graduating from SUNY Cobleskill with a bachelors degree in Agricultural Business Management and an associates in Sustainable Crop Production. Since I returned to the farm I have been growing my role in the operation. I am in charge of human resources and the H2A visa process on the farm though the best days are the ones I get to spend on a tractor. Above all my role is to make sure that everyone on our team has what they need to be successful. I also serve on the Board of Directors of the New York State Horticultural Society.

Describe your AFA experience as a student.

In my freshman year of college I was sitting in Introduction to Ag Economics when my professor brought up AFA. That was the start of one of my best decisions in my collegiate career. Over the next three years I saw parts of the ag and food industry that I never would have seen otherwise.

Coming from a small school in the Northeast, AFA exposed me to the diversity and scale of Agriculture in America. I attended as many institutes as I could and in each experience met new people, building a network that I still interact with today. Going into my senior year, I served on the ambassador team and worked to introduce new student to AFA and all the doors it can open.

These days, I have been involved in the Alliance program which has served as a great opportunity to continue to learn as I continue to advance in my career.

What skill, mindset or lesson from AFA has been most useful in your professional life?

The focus on servant leadership that I was shown through AFA experiences has greatly helped how I work with my team. On my farm, most of my day is focused on making sure my team is ready to go tomorrow. If I can help put my team in a position to be successful then they are much more likely to get the job done.

In what ways do you stay connected or involved with AFA in your professional life? Why is that important to you?

Each year I look forward to AllianceX as both a way to reconnect with new and old friends that I met through AFA programs as well as an opportunity to let my brain reset and experience something way different from my day-to-day. I have been lucky enough to explore Spain and Portugal with the destinations alliance trip. It was incredible to experience so many incredible places with like minded people.

Finish this sentence: Because of AFA, I…

Have grown both as a person and a professional.