TEAMING FOR SUCCESS
A FARM INTERNSHIP: PAVING THE WAY TO THE FUTURE THE CHANCE TO GAIN real-world work experience just got a little easier for students at Guilford College, thanks to the new Annual Internship Fund created by Steve ’82 and Athena Trout. When Noah Jackson graduates from Guilford in May 2020, he will already be well on his way to a successful career in agriculture, thanks in part to a summer
NOAH JACKSON ’20
“I’ve always been interested in
pursuing a career in agriculture, and I really liked the fact that you can build the SFS major in the way it works best for you.” — Noah Jackson ’20
internship in 2019 at the Center for
Noah to take some courses at N.C. A&T State University, including the Dollar Enterprise class with Dr. Chyi Lyi Liang, a professor at the University who also helps with the CEFS farm. “When she found out my family had a farm in Wayne County, she talked to me about the internship opportunity and said they were looking for people if I was
Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS). Formed by a partnership between
A focus on farming systems led
interested,” Noah says. of operations on the 27-acre farm, giving
The work on the farm not only gave
N. C. State University, N.C. A&T State
him managerial experience in addition to
Noah first-hand experience in all
University and the North Carolina
his farm tasks. He interviewed and hired
aspects of farming, but also served as
Department of Agriculture and
two new workers and helped plan the
a good introduction to the work being
Consumer Services, CEFS is a center for
fiscal year budget. “I got a lot of real-world
done in agricultural research. “I’m
research, extension and education in
experience,” Noah says. “I enjoyed the farm
looking to gain more experience in
sustainable agriculture and community-
experience, but having the opportunity
agriculture before going to work on my
based food systems.
to take on more responsibilities was even
family’s farm, and I think I would like
more important.”
to continue working in agricultural
At CEFS Noah participated in the daily tasks of running a research farm, and
Noah was introduced to the internship
research,” Noah says. “I enjoyed working
much more. He worked on studies being
through connections he made in the
with the state to learn new things and
conducted on topics like acidity levels
Sustainable Food Systems program.
in turn helping others learn those
in soil and how it affects crops, as well
“This major was part of what attracted
techniques. It’s farmers helping farmers,
as how planting patterns benefit crops.
me to Guilford College,” Noah says. “I’ve
and that’s something I can get behind.”
For example, planting sweet potatoes
always been interested in pursuing a
around okra can be beneficial because
career in agriculture, and I really liked
Education Fund for North Carolina
sweet potatoes hold water in the soil.
the fact that you can build the SFS major
Quakers and the Horace S. Haworth Sr.
in the way it works best for you.”
Memorial Scholarship.
A few weeks in, Noah was put in charge 1 6 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
Noah is a recipient of the Hinshaw
— K. Alley
