Welcome to Agricultural Sciences

My name is Jeremy Jones. Raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina, I spent my early years working alongside local farmers with cattle, hay, and horses, which sparked my lifelong passion for agriculture. As a proud 1997 graduate of Charles D. Owen High School, I was actively involved in school's agriculture and FFA programs. I went on to pursue this passion at North Carolina State University, earning my Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Education in 2002. 

I began my teaching career in Morganton, North Carolina, at Freedom High School from 2002 to 2004, laying the foundation for my work as an agricultural educator. To be closer to home, I moved to Sylva, North Carolina, where I spent 15 impactful years at Smoky Mountain High School from 2004 to 2019. During this period, I earned my Master’s degree in Agricultural Education from NC A&T State University in 2013. I focused heavily on practical innovation—partnering with local businesses to introduce a CAD plasma cutter that produced the entrance sign for the Town of Sylva near the justice center, modernizing our greenhouse with automated shade cloth, and introducing two hydroponics systems that produced one-third of the school cafeteria's lettuce.

From 2019 to 2026, I taught at Travelers Rest High School after relocating to Travelers Rest, South Carolina, to be near my parents when they sold our Sandy Mush farm and moved to Lake Hartwell in Townville. In this position, I expanded student participation in Career and Leadership Development Events and reactivated the Young Farmer and Agribusiness Association. Over three consecutive years, we guided an adult member to earn prestigious state-level honors, including State Conservation Farmer of the Year, State Farmer of the Year, and State Agribusiness Person of the Year. Professionally, I helped secure a $250,000 state-of-the-art greenhouse while repurposing the original facility into a shade house, complete with two newly built Missouri gravel beds for nursery production.

On a personal note, I met my wonderful wife, Melissa, in 2012, and we were married in 2014. We share our home with three beloved rescue cats: nine-year-old siblings Sahara and Moxie, and Hurricane, whom we rescued from a neighbor’s pontoon boat at just three days old following Hurricane Helene. Since settling in South Carolina, we’ve just this year started raising backyard chickens and planted our first garden in SC after many years without one. In our free time, we love exploring the outdoors, fishing, movies, and traveling together, with an ongoing goal to visit all 50 states. 

I am thrilled to join the growing agriculture program at ACTC. I look forward to working with the faculty of ACTC and the students of Anderson County, building a showcase program for regional agriculture, and serving our broader community through the Williamston Adult Ag Education program.