Lewis Boykin Fish Health Extension Associate

It’s a fishy job but Lewis Boykin loves doing it. Boykin, a fish health extension associate at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Fish Health Lab, works directly with fisheries across Arkansas to help them ensure the product they sell meets acceptable commercial standards. He diagnoses the health and quality of fish populations and works with producers to fix an issue that might arise.

“Whether it’s the food you eat or the clothes you wear, agriculture has a part in your life,” Boykin said.

Boykin’s father, who grew up in agriculture, frequently took him fishing as a boy. His love of fishing and his natural curiosity about where things come from nurtured his interest in agriculture. While attending Augusta State University, he learned about aquaculture. Combining fishing and agriculture brought him to what he describes as his dream job. He gets to make a difference in producers’ lives and learn from them as he works on his master’s in aquaculture and fisheries from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

“There’s going to be a lot of opportunities for people interested in this field to pursue his as a career,” Boykin said. “A younger workforce will be welcome.”

While the journey to this moment has required sacrifices, he believes they were worth every moment and encourages anyone remotely interested in the field to investigate career opportunities. Many in the aquaculture and agriculture workforce will be retiring soon, opening many opportunities for the next generation.
 
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