Trent McCracken

In his own words ...

Where are you from, and why did you choose to study at UGA/CAES?
I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I chose to study at UGA CAES because plant breeding is alive and well at this university.

Thesis/Dissertation Overview
I have two major components of my research. The first is characterizing sterile traits in a polyploid induced line of Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet). Such work involves conducting pollen viability tests, confirming suspected ploidy, and determining a significant reduction (or no production) of drupes. The second involves two species of holly, Ilex maximowicziana (Maximowicz's holly) and Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon holly). The goal with these hollies is to screen them for novel ornamental traits following polyploid induction, including compact growth habit, new leaf color, increased leaf size, novel shape, and increased growth rate. Screening for suspected tetraploids using flow cytometry is also part of my holly project.

Why did you choose your major?
I chose the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics because this has been my life's passion. Since I was about 14 years old, my father would take me to work with him at a small ornamental pumpkin breeding company. I fell in love with the profession immediately when I realized I could get paid to create new crop varieties using creativity. I knew this was where I wanted to end up. This journey has been at least a decade in the making.

Who is your major professor?
Dr. John Ruter

What is your favorite class you have taken?
Genomic Selection

Who has been your favorite instructor?
Dr. Jason Wallace

What has been the best experience you've had so far at the college?
Easily, the best experience is all of the friendships that I have created while here. The graduate student association for the IPBGG is very inclusive, active, and fun. They host a social hour every month that I look forward to attending with others in the institute and my lab mates. Having camaraderie is extremely important, and I am glad to have many amazing colleagues.

What do you want to do with what you have learned here?
When I leave the CAES, I want to use my knowledge to become an ornamental plant breeder.

How has your experience at UGA changed you?
It has taught me a lot about myself, for sure. I have learned that I need to think about what is important in my life, what my goals are, what my values are, and do my best to achieve all of these aspects. Life never works out the way you plan, and that is alright. I believe I learned that very well at UGA. I began my career here doing something that I was not very passionate about, and learning to advocate for myself was integral in landing on a project that I am now heavily invested in.

Thinking of the word agriculture - what does agriculture mean to you? In what ways does agriculture impact your life and your culture?
Agriculture impacts me daily; everything that you eat, you can thank a farmer for. It is important to understand where our food originates. I think there is a massive disconnect between what consumers buy at the supermarket and where that product is coming from. It even extends into plants that we think look pleasing. Ornamentals are a large part of day-to-day life. Look at our beautiful campus; the plants that make up the landscape were hand-chosen, and someone had to grow them. Agriculture is a difficult word to put a definition on because it means so much to me personally.

What do you like to do outside of class — hobbies, interests, secret talents?
Outside of my studies I love to do anything involving nature! Kayaking, hiking, foraging, you name it. I enjoy taking a walk out into the woods and trying to identify as many mushrooms as I can. Outside of that I am a massive sports fan, there is nothing better than a Saturday in Sanford Stadium rooting on my Georgia Bulldogs.