From Indiana 4-H to Purdue Agriculture
Brody Cox: From 4-H to Purdue Agriculture
Transcript for Brody Cox: From 4-H to Purdue Agriculture
Visual Description: Brody, a caucasian young adult male, wearing a polo shirt, white baseball cap, and jeans, opens the door to a Purdue campus building and enters, then sits on a blue curved sofa in a lounge checking his phone.
Audio Narration: "So I'm going to Purdue to study Ag Econ."
Visual Description: On-screen text reads "Brody Cox | Freshman - Agricultural Economics". Brody sits in a well-lit living area, talking directly to the camera.
Audio Narration: "And I'd like to eventually become an ag attorney and stay around here local and help farmers keep doing what they're doing."
Visual Description: In a large indoor livestock facility, Brody walks a black-and-white pig on a leash. Next, he kneels in a wooden-shaved pen to carefully brush the pig's coat.
Audio Narration: "Being in 4-H taught me how to get into a routine of things at a young age, and that's helped me transition to college super well."
Visual Description: Brody guides his pig across a lush lawn near a pond on a sunny day.
Audio Narration: "I've been actively involved in 4-H and FFA and both of those clubs and chapters have helped me out tremendously through my younger years and helped me grow into the leader that I am today."
Visual Description: Brody guides his pig with a show stick inside a crowded livestock arena ring during a competition. He later stands beside a livestock pen adorned with 4-H award banners reading "Grand Champion 4-H Gilt 2024 Benton County Fair" and "Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Barrow 2023 Benton County Fair".
Audio Narration: "When you work super hard at something, especially for a long period of time, obviously your main goal is to win, but I think it's been helpful having to learn from the losses and come back every year with a new passion for it and having a new goal set every year and being able to help reach your goals by stepping higher each year."
Visual Description: Brody walks his pig down the aisle of a livestock barn, then transitions to sitting around a dining room table at home with his family during a meal.
Audio Narration: "And I think that's something you can apply to life, especially once you get to college."
Visual Description: Brody speaks directly to the camera while standing in a hallway in front of a stone wall featuring the raised lettering "Department of Agricultural Economics".
Audio Narration: "You're not always going to win and everything. You're not always going to get into everything you apply for, every job you apply for."
Visual Description: Outdoors on the lawn, Brody walks alongside his pig and crouches down to feed and stroke it.
Audio Narration: "But being able to have that background and skill set where you're able to power through the losses is definitely something that 4-H has helped me get through."
Visual Description: Brody sits at the dining table with his mother, father, brother, and sister, eating and chatting together.
Audio Narration: "I grown up as a Purdue fan, always had Purdue as one of my top choices in mind."
Visual Description: Brody continues speaking in front of the Department of Agricultural Economics wall backdrop.
Audio Narration: "But I wanted to be different for college and get away, and I had opportunities to go elsewhere."
Visual Description: Students carry backpacks and walk under the large brick Purdue University Gateway arch on campus.
Audio Narration: "But at the end of the day, Purdue’s a world class university and being able to get scholarships and that low tuition in-state just was the ultimate deciding factor,"
Visual Description: Inside a large, tiered lecture hall filled with students working on laptops, Brody sits at a desk taking notes on his computer.
Audio Narration: "while still getting a great degree in the ag school here."
Visual Description: Aerial footage sweeps over campus buildings and trees toward the Purdue Bell Tower, fading to a black screen displaying the Purdue University logo and text reading "Office of Academic Programs".
Audio Narration: [Upbeat acoustic music fades out]
For Brody Cox, preparing for the Indiana State Fair began long before he entered the show ring.
His family started looking at pigs in the fall. By early spring, Brody’s days included feeding, washing, walking and caring for the animals before and after school. Patience, consistency and a willingness to keep learning were required.
Those are the same qualities Cox has brought to Purdue Agriculture as a first-year agricultural economics student.
A Benton County 4-H member, Brody joined the program to show pigs alongside his siblings and friends. Over time, the experience helped him discover new interests and develop skills that make him ready for this next leap.
“4-H definitely sparked my interest in the swine industry,” Brody said. “When I was younger, I was just showing pigs and taking them to a couple of shows each year. Eventually, it developed into a passion.”
The summer after his junior year of high school, Brody and his best friend decided to start a direct-to-consumer pork business. Together, they raise about 120 pigs each year and sell pork to customers in their community.
The business gave Brody an opportunity to apply what he learned through 4-H while building skills in animal care, customer service and entrepreneurship. It also helped him realize how agriculture and business could come together in his future.
Now studying agricultural economics at Purdue, Brody feels beyond ready. He plans to attend law school and become an agricultural attorney, specializing in legal issues affecting farms, agribusinesses and food production.
“4-H helped me discover what I care about, and running the business showed me how much agriculture depends on people who understand both the industry and the challenges farmers face,” Cox said. “I want to build on those experiences at Purdue and eventually use my education to help Indiana farmers and rural communities.”
Finding His Own Path
Brody’s parents, Brent and Natasha Cox, are both Purdue Agriculture alumni.
“We met at Purdue and bleed black and gold, but we wanted Brody to discover his own path,” said Natasha Cox, senior vice president of lending at Farm Credit Mid-America.
Brody considered several colleges before choosing Purdue. He was drawn to its reputation, the connections he could build and the preparation he would receive for a career in agriculture.
“For me, it came down to Purdue being one of the country’s top agriculture schools,” Brody said. Purdue ranks No. 3 nationally. “It offers hands-on experiences, strong connections with the agriculture industry and a reputation for preparing hardworking individuals.”
Prepared For His Next Challenge
Brody arrived at Purdue with experience leading and mentoring others and helping turn an idea into a growing business. He credits 4-H and FFA with giving him the confidence to pursue opportunities and preparing him for the transition to college.
“They helped me grow into the leader I am today,” Cox said.
Some of Brody’s most meaningful 4-H experiences came from helping younger members. When he was starting out, older members taught him how to show pigs, answered his questions and helped him find his place in the program. As Brody gained experience, he began offering that same support to others. Members learn from those ahead of them, grow in confidence and then reach back to help the next generation find its way.
“I remember how much the older members helped me when I was starting out,” Cox said. “Now, I want to pass that support along and help younger members build confidence, reach their goals and find their own passion.”
Brody applies the lessons he learned through 4-H to his Purdue Agriculture experience. Work hard. Ask questions. Build relationships. Be willing to try something new.
Brody’s journey offers proof that the skills 4-H members are building today prepare them for their future. Every project completed, challenge overcome and leadership role accepted adds to that preparation.
Your 4-H journey can be the beginning of your Purdue Agriculture story. Explore the college’s majors, visit campus and discover how the interests you are developing now can grow into a degree, a career and a future within reach.
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