Fort Pierce Teen on a Mission to Raise Awareness
by SHAYLYNN MARKS
At just 18 years old, Paige Cruse has already become a powerful voice for agriculture, and it all began with a nickname from her grandfather.
“He was very sick when my mom found out she was pregnant with me,” Cruse says. “When she told him my name, he said, ‘Paige — she’s gonna be front page news one day.’”
That sentiment stuck. Years later, it became the foundation for Front Paige Ag, the advocacy project Cruse launched as a teenager to help amplify the stories of farmers and ranchers across Florida and beyond.
Born into a seventh-generation cattle ranching family, the Fort Pierce Westwood High FFA member carries her agricultural heritage with pride.
“I hold being an agriculturalist very fond to my heart,” she says. “It’s something that taught me hard work, dedication and perseverance. Our world’s always evolving, and so do our practices; we’re always thinking of the bigger picture, not just for ourselves, but for the people who consume our products.”
What started as a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) for FFA quickly turned into something bigger. “My ag teacher suggested advocacy, and at the time I wasn’t even allowed to have social media,” she says. “But I took the name my grandfather gave me and decided to run with it to create a space that honored hardworking families like my own.”
Cruse launched her Facebook and Instagram pages in June 2022 with 15 followers, mostly friends and family. Since then, she’s grown her audience to more than 1,200 on Facebook and nearly 1,000 on Instagram, with impressions exceeding 15,000 every 30 days. Her posts (part inspiration, part information) focus on agricultural truths and correcting common misconceptions.
“I started this at 16, 17 years old, so building credibility was a challenge,” she says. “But I stayed consistent and kept the message the same: Agriculture is doing its part for the consumer and the environment. Without it, our nation and economy would fail.”
Through Front Paige Ag, Cruse has found her voice and used it at every level, from elementary classrooms to state legislature. She has lobbied for agricultural legislation with the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and advocated for the state’s AG package bill, which prohibited lab-grown meat in Florida.
“That one meant a lot,” Cruse says. “I listened to producers tell me how lab-grown meat could wipe out family farms. When the governor passed the bill, I felt like I played a small part in protecting our livelihoods.”
But one of the most meaningful moments in her advocacy came in a local elementary school classroom.
“I asked, ‘Where does your hamburger come from?’ And this little girl raised her hand so excited and said, ‘Walmart,’” Cruse recalls. “It broke my heart — but then her grandmother followed me on Facebook and told me how much her granddaughter talked about what she learned that day. That ripple effect? That’s what matters.”
Despite her growing success, Cruse remains grounded. “There are people who still don’t believe a teenager can make an impact,” she says.
“But your voice is just as valuable as anyone else’s, and I want younger people to know that,” she says. “Continue to tell the story of agriculture and tell the facts because at the end of the day, that’s the most important thing that needs to be told.”
She credits FFA for helping her evolve into the communicator she is today. “FFA gave me confidence, a voice, a family I can call when I need support or when I want to celebrate a success,” she says.
After graduating, Cruse plans to study agricultural communications and education at the University of Florida. She’s also running for Florida FFA state office and recently accepted a position with Farm4Profit Media to host a new podcast.
“The name’s going to be Beyond the Jacket,” Cruse says. “Looking at those FFA members that are working beyond the jacket in their career in technical education or in a project — really showcasing what youth in agriculture are doing in our backyards across our nation.”
Still, Cruse has no intention of leaving her original project behind.
“I want to keep Front Paige Ag going, even if it’s not as frequent, while I’m in college,” she says. “Whether it’s blog posts or adding TikToks and podcasts, I want to keep connecting with people of every age.”
Her advice to others? Start now.
“Don’t be afraid to get started, even if people disagree with you,” she says. “You’re not doing it for the money or recognition. You’re doing it because you love it. Agriculture is essential, and it has to prevail. And we need more voices to make sure that happens.”
Cruse is just getting started, but she knows what’s at stake.
“Misconceptions can be louder than facts if you’re not standing there fighting them,” she says.
Through Front Paige Ag and Beyond the Jacket, she’s turning up the volume.
Backed by titles, followers, and with a growing platform that spans classrooms, legislation, and national attention, her work isn’t just personal. It’s powerful, and it’s motivating voices of all ages and backgrounds to step up, speak out, and make agriculture impossible to ignore.