By: Allison Smith, senior, Agribusiness Management
My experience on the farm so far has been a wild ride. In the past few weeks, the weather has been unpredictable and chaotic. This has led to less than ideal conditions and has pushed back transplanting, harvesting, and seeding dates for crops. While this has been unfortunate, it has taught us how to be flexible and has allowed us to learn other skills when the weather doesn’t allow us to do what we need to. As the weather settles down, I feel much more acclimated to life on the farm. In the beginning, I was unsure of what to do, what to prioritize, and where things were. As the weeks start passing, I find myself being less nervous and more confident in what I am doing. I’ve been able to learn which areas I thrive in and which areas are better suited for others.
I am currently the wholesale assistant and in charge of the farm’s data management. It’s been very valuable to be able to learn the inner workings of Penn State’s food supply chain. I believe that it’s very important to understand the supply of a product from start to finish, or from seeding to delivery. Overseeing the farm’s data management has allowed me to see problems in record keeping and to correct them, begin to figure out where interns are more effective, and to make sure our data is neat and organized for the future.
It’s been an incredible experience so far learning the how to wash and pack, prep beds, and see our little baby plants grow. I’m looking forward to making this the best year for the farm with my fellow interns!