While most seniors can’t wait to leave their high school campus behind, senior Charlotte Meek looks forward to the moment she can hopefully return to Fullerton’s campus

“My biggest hope in the world is to teach for the Agriculture program here at Fullerton,” Meek said.

For Meek, agriculture isn’t just an extracurricular; it’s a part of her family legacy.

“My parents were in FFA, along with my grandparents and aunt,“ Meek said. “My grandfather was involved in the Sunny Hills FFA. My grandparents moved here in the 1950s, so we’ve always been involved.”

Since her sophomore year, Meek has taken on important FFA responsibilities including leadership roles, livestock care, and community outreach.

Meek fulfills her daily duties of feeding and cleaning her livestock. She’s also a Class Officer in the agriculture program. As secretary, she’s responsible for creating agendas, logging meeting hours, and planning events like the end-of-year banquet. 

On a larger scale, she also serves in Orange County FFA, helping coordinate materials and logistics for sectional events across 12 schools. Here, Meeks focuses on engaging with members at meetings and conferences, helping build strong connections across the FFA organization.

“I really love the outreach part,” Meek said. “That’s where I found a little community of people, and I want to show that for others.”

 Currently, Meek is also raising her seventh pig and second steer, both of which she cares for before, after, and during her school hours. 

“Every morning before school, I come and feed my animals and clean,” she said. “I make sure that they have water, are groomed, and they’re safe. I pay for all their food and equipment; everything comes from me.”

Her dedication comes with laborious work and late nights, but she’s never felt alone. Meek credits her parents for helping her stay grounded. She recalls mornings when she struggled to handle animal duties and math homework deadlines; her parents would be there with encouragement and full support.

“They aren’t the type of parents to stress me out, and that independence helped me keep myself on track,” Meek said. “Whether it was late nights with impossible-seeming math homework or early mornings to feed my pigs, they were always up for helping me whenever I needed it.”

Her dedication has led her to higher success at local competitions. At the 2024 Orange County Fair, she placed 11th in advanced hog showmanship and nearly topped her class with her steer in the market category. In January 2025, she took home 1st place in both the Team and Individual Cooperatives Selection Competition.

Meek attributes her success to her agriculture teachers, who taught her both courage and motivation.

“Ms. [Shannon] Alcott pushed me a lot, because I didn’t have much confidence freshman year,” Meek said. “It’s been very helpful being a part of this program and having her as an advisor.”

Agriculture teacher Jennifer Kuhns, who also taught Meek’s mother at Fullerton, has been influential.

“I’ve known Mrs. Kuhns forever,” Meek said. “She’s been such a great presence.”

After teaching Meek for three years, Kuhns recognizes that she’s gained an equal share of inspiration from Meek.

“Honestly, she’s helped me much more than I’ve helped her,” Kuhns said. “She’s a quiet leader—reliable, sharp, and academically strong. I depend on her. It’s been amazing watching her grow so far in her leadership roles, and while I’m sad to see her go, I know she will move far with her love of agriculture.”

Outside of school, Meek enjoys photographing her animals. She started by taking pictures of her spring fair market goats, and even bought herself a camera after taking photography classes at Fullerton.

“I actually have a Canon and analog camera collection,” she said. “It’s one of my favorite little things I do.”

Meek’s evident love of agriculture and her deep roots in Fullerton have shaped her long-term goals. She plans to attend Louisiana State University in the fall to pursue a degree in Agriculture Education.

“I’ve wanted to be a teacher since kindergarten,” Meek said. “It was just a matter of figuring out what kind. The best thing I did was find something I’m passionate about and just throw myself into it. Once I joined Ag, I knew this was it, I had found a community that I really loved.”

In ten years or so, Meek hopes to be teaching Agriculture, right back here at Fullerton Union High School. “My goal is to be a Mrs. Kuhns or Ms. Alcott by the end of my time in college,” Meek said. “They have shown me what it means to support students and create a welcoming environment. That’s what I want to do; I want to create something like that for other students someday.”