Most of the people that know me would not pick me out in a crowd of people as the agricultural/farming type. However, I did come very close when I was deciding my final major. Even though I chose the Landscape Architecture major instead of the Agricultural Sciences major, there are still many chances to get involved with agriculture.
When I read about the opportunity to work on a farm for an internship this summer, I just figured, “Why not?” I had just spent the last semester working on a farm-based landscape architecture project and wanted to know what the experience was like hands on.
Me and Wes Stauffer. Wes taught us how to use our new BCS tiller.
Well, I did not know that I was in for a big surprise. I have learned that farming is a very hard job. However, I also never thought I would be a part of something so rewarding. The new things I have learned, like using our tractor with the help of Wes Stauffer from Ephrata, PA, will be things I will never forget. Just behind the picture of Wes and me, you will see that we had been forming our tomato beds. At this point, I was desperately hoping our plants would grow! And I still get that way whenever I plant a seed or transplant, but that’s a part of learning to farm!
We’ve been fully running for about a month now, and I am amazed at the progress we have had on the farm. I am not only learning about farming in general, but about the benefits of freshly grown produce and your health! Farming is a great way to make friends and stay in shape, especially for someone like me, who has some health issues (biking to the farm also gets that extra work out in)!
This experience is far from over for me, but I know it has personally changed my way of thinking, my life, and my future.