Daybaa Gontee, a 4-H member from Karnplay City in Nimba County, Liberia, has become an inspiration at Karnplay Inland Academy (KIA) through her passion for agriculture. Her hard work and dedication led her to win the National Agriculture Creed Speaking Competition.

She committed herself to studying and memorizing the Agriculture Creed with the support of her mother and her teacher, who helped with pronunciation and answering challenging questions off the cuff. Daybaa practiced reciting the Creed for her family, classmates and principal, which helped her gain confidence and ultimately succeed.

When she returned to school with her national trophy, her principal was thrilled! The school had never won a trophy before. He proudly displayed Daybaa’s trophy in his office, celebrating her victory and the honor it brought to the school. Being one of 14 children, Daybaa’s parents were considering taking Daybaa out of school for lack of funds to pay school fees. Because of the pride she brought to the campus, the principal awarded her a one-year scholarship during a special ceremony in front of the entire student body, allowing her to continue her education.

In addition to her public speaking accomplishments, Daybaa started a home entrepreneurship project—a garden where she grows eddoes and cassava. Daybaa dreams of becoming a professional agriculturalist one day. She believes agriculture is not only essential but also a path to independence and financial stability. Her goal is to attend Cuttington University to study agriculture, then return to her home community to establish a large-scale commercial farm where she can grow eddoes, potatoes, cassava and watermelon.