ORANGE PARK - Taylor Thigpen is far from your average high school senior. The 18-year-old Lake Asbury resident, St. Johns Country Day student, and recently elected Florida 4-H President – where he serves over 230,000 members – is also a successful entrepreneur. His licensed small business, Plant King USA, can ship aroids, foliage, succulents and more to all 50 states from Clay County.

Thigpen’s next step is the world.

He stepped onto the international stage after being selected as a Youth Delegate for the United States at the World Food Forum (WFF). The flagship event will be hosted at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy and streamed virtually on Zoom from Oct. 16-20.

The WFF unites stakeholders worldwide with youth, farmers, small-scale producers, Indigenous Peoples, policymakers, Agri-investors, and scientists to join together for a forum on the global food insecurity crisis. The aim is to offer solutions and pitch ideas to secure a better global food future.

Thigpen plans to address domestic issues with other representatives from the U.S. “Food security is something we can never (fully) end, but it’s something we can all work together to fight,” he said.

His journey fighting international hunger began locally with his involvement in 4-H. As the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world, Thigpen worked alongside county officials to provide food relief for families facing adversity. Working alongside nonprofits, he gained perspective on the issues that challenge our world.

“Working with nonprofits in grant writing has allowed me to educate myself on current issues and become empathetic toward what has been going on in the world today, and I’ve developed a great passion for the communities of Clay County after working closely with individuals who face hunger daily,” Thigpen said.

According to the United Nations, an estimated 828 million people faced hunger worldwide in 2021. Addressing the global crisis means recognizing that hunger exists in our own backyard.

“The challenges of food security don’t just affect people on the other side of the world, they are issues that hit close to home. Every county in the U.S. faces some form of food insecurity. Right here in Clay County, schools have rising lunch debts, and families don’t know where their next meal is going to come from. That’s just right here in our community,” Thigpen said.

Thigpen will continue to do all that he can. And this isn’t his first rodeo, either. Last year, he participated in a National Forum focusing on the importance of healthy and sustainable food for children. The virtual event hosted influential leaders like President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

As Thigpen works to make the world less hungry, he reflects on the significance of his journey that began in the county he has lived in for nearly his entire life.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for the work I’ve done for families and youth, especially when it relates to my passion for food security in my own home. Clay County has truly given me the opportunity to learn and grow as an individual through working with numerous nonprofits. Being able to take this on at an international level is super inspiring to me, and it’s something that I hope to continue for the rest of my life,” he said.