Alumni Spotlight: Celebrating Our Graduates

We are proud of our graduates and their achievements in the fields of agriculture, landscape, and turfgrass management. Our alumni are making a positive difference in their communities and industries, and we want to celebrate their successes. We also invite alumni to remain connected to our program through various opportunities to give back to our students. 

Alumni Stories

Emerson Pulliam, 2005 Graduate

We're incredibly proud of Emerson Pulliam, a 2005 AT graduate! Not only is he a tremendous asset to Virginia Tech Athletics, but he also significantly impacts our Turfgrass Management students' education. Emmerson generously provides hands-on learning and employment opportunities, helping our students gain invaluable experience through labs and real-world applications at Lane Stadium.

Robert Mills, Jr, 1994 Graduate

Robert Mills, Jr became a first-generation farmer after receiving his associate degree in Agricultural Technology.  He owns and operates Briar View Farms, which includes a pullet breeder operation that raises 34,000 birds annually for Perdue Farms and a 300-head cow-calf operation. He also grows conventional flue-cured, dark-fired and cigar wrapper tobacco, as well as organic flue-cured tobacco, corn, soybeans and wheat. He was recognized as the Swisher Sweets / Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year in 2017.

Robert Mills exemplifies the spirit of Ut Prosim and agricultural excellence by giving of his time, talent, and resources to our program, Virginia Tech, and the broader community.   He has returned to campus to speak with students, previously served on the Board of Visitors, and contributed his leadership on both the Virginia Farm Bureau’s board,  advisory board for CALS, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Agricultural Growers Association, Tobacco Associates Inc, and Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board. Most recently he was elected to serve as Vice-President of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. Whether advocating for the future of farming across the state or supporting the university’s agricultural research initiatives, Robert Mills Jr's passion for the agriculture industry shines through. 

Living Ut Prosim 

Alumni and industry involvement are key to the success of the Agricultural Technology Program. We are incredibly fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers who support us in various ways as they live out Virginia Tech’s mission, Ut Prosim!

Share Your Story

Your story could help inspire a student! Help us highlight your success and career path by filling out this form: https://forms.office.com/r/CcYFCMxUZv

Volunteer, Donate, Host Internships, and Hire AT students

We warmly invite others to join us! If you would like to contribute your time, talents, supplies, or monetary donations to our program, please let us know buy clicking this link. This list will help our instructors know who to call when the need arises. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!

Stay Connected

We love hearing from our alumni! Keep us updated on your career achievements, personal milestones, and any exciting news you want to share.

• Update Your Information: Help us keep our records current by updating your contact information. Click here to Update Your Alumni Profile URL: https://alumni.vt.edu/service/index1.html
• Share Your News: Have exciting news or achievements to share? Let us know! Email rosejeter@vt.edu 
• Join Our Alumni Network: Connect with fellow AT graduates and faculty, while expanding your professional network. Join our alumni LinkedIn page and stay engaged with the Agricultural Technology community.