A FARM INTERNSHIP: PAVING THE WAY TO THE FUTURE

Noah Jackson '20

Photo by Jenna Schad

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.

By Karen Alley

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 internship in 2019 at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS).

Formed by a partnership between N. C. State University, N.C. A&T State University and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, CEFS is a center for research, extension and education in sustainable agriculture and community based food systems.

At CEFS Noah participated in the daily tasks of running a research farm, and much more. He worked on studies being conducted on topics like acidity levels in soil and how it affects crops, as well as how planting patterns benefit crops. For example, planting sweet potatoes around okra can be beneficial because sweet potatoes hold water in the soil.

A few weeks in, Noah was put in charge of operations on the 27-acre farm, giving him managerial experience in addition to his farm tasks. He interviewed and hired two new workers and helped plan the fiscal year budget. “I got a lot of real-world experience,” Noah says. “I enjoyed the farm experience, but having the opportunity to take on more responsibilities was even more important.”

Noah was introduced to the internship through connections he made in the Sustainable Food Systems program. “This major was part of what attracted me to Guilford College,” Noah says. “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.”

A focus on farming systems led 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 interested,” Noah says.

The work on the farm not only gave Noah first-hand experience in all aspects of farming, but also served as a good introduction to the work being done in agricultural research. “I’m looking to gain more experience in agriculture before going to work on my family’s farm, and I think I would like to continue working in agricultural research,” Noah says. “I enjoyed working with the state to learn new things and in turn helping others learn those techniques. It’s farmers helping farmers, and that’s something I can get behind.”

Noah is a recipient of the Hinshaw Education Fund for North Carolina Quakers and the Horace S. Haworth Sr. Memorial Scholarship.