From football to farming: UK quarterback Brock Vandagriff looks to the future

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 9, 2024) — Once Brock Vandagriff steps off the football field, operating his own farm is “the dream.”

The starting quarterback for the 2024 University of Kentucky football team, Vandagriff is working toward his master’s degree in community and leadership development (CLD) in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

The CLD program appealed to Vandagriff as a continuation of his studies at the University of Georgia, where he received his bachelor’s degree in communication studies and was on the football team from 2021-2023.

“It had some carryover, and it was in agriculture,” Vandagriff said. “That is something I want to do when I’m done playing ball, so it’s a two-for-one deal.”

Vandagriff’s first exposure to agriculture was on his grandparents’ and great-grandparents’ farms in Alabama. More recently, his hands-on experience has come from his girlfriend Layton Glisson’s family beef operation in Georgia during their five years of dating.

“Working with them has definitely sparked my interest,” Vandagriff said.

After a lifetime of working with cattle and loving the outdoors, Vandagriff hopes to have a cow-calf operation of his own someday.

“Just being on the land, just hanging out with family — the dream,” he said.

Vandagriff’s experience in the CLD program is helping him achieve that dream. He began taking classes in spring 2023, and he was able to participate in a few CLD programs during the off-season.

At the UK Field Day event, which brought more than 3,000 4-H and FFA students to UK’s campus for agriculture competitions and activities, Vandagriff served food and posed for a lot of photos. Proficient in American Sign Language, he also communicated with students from the Kentucky School for the Deaf.

“Those students were more in awe that someone could sign in their language than the fact it was the UK quarterback,” said Rebekah Epps, CLD associate professor and Vandagriff’s mentor.

This summer, Vandagriff took Epps’ Gate to Plate course, which educated participants about the meat industry from start to finish. He visited Eden Shale Farm, Blue Grass Stockyards, the UK Meats Lab and other UK facilities.

“Those are things I probably never would have learned about if I wasn’t there,” Vandagriff said.

At Gate to Plate, Vandagriff connected with people and organizations that will be helpful when he has his own farm. He shared his experience in an episode of Kentucky Ag Matters, a Martin-Gatton CAFE podcast to inform and educate producers and consumers about all things agriculture.

“Brock has told me several times that class has been his favorite class of his entire college career,” Epps said. “I suspect the large amounts of hamburger, brisket, steak, tri-tips and other beef may have had something to do with this being his favorite.”

A Georgia alumna and football fan, Epps knew of Vandagriff before he became her student. Once he joined the CLD program, she made sure he was welcomed as “Brock, one of our new graduate students in the program,” rather than be defined as “Brock, UK quarterback.”

“He is extremely polite and is a man of few words in class. Don’t let that fool you,” Epps said. “Brock is constantly thinking and will pipe up with a perspective you may have not had or thought of because of his life experiences on the playing field, the hunting field or the cattle and hay fields.” 

Since moving to Kentucky, Vandagriff has had some opportunities to hunt and fish, sometimes at the invitation of UK football coaches and others close to the program.

“I’m looking forward to getting out a little more in the off-season and getting to know some people,” Vandagriff said.

Another goal Vandagriff has for after football season: Develop what his research and eventual thesis will be. “Juggling” a master’s degree and a football schedule is demanding, he said, but Vandagriff is excited to keep working.

“It’s getting about time for the rubber to hit the road,” Vandagriff said.

This week, the 3-2 Wildcats take on Vanderbilt University for Homecoming. Martin-Gatton CAFE also celebrates Roundup, an annual celebration for the college and agriculture community. 

“Homecoming week will definitely be good for the ag department and the people who get to come in,” Vandagriff said. “Come back and see where ag is now and see our football program.”

Having the starting quarterback as a CLD master’s student brings a lot of pride to the program.

“But we are very happy with allowing Brock to serve as an ambassador for agriculture on his own terms,” Epps said. “He is interested in merging his love of both football and agriculture in a way that best serves him and his community.”

The Roundup Alumni & Friends Tailgate will take place at the Cooper House four hours before kickoff. Learn more about Roundup at https://alumni.ca.uky.edu/roundup.