“I gained real world experience of what the stem / agricultural world looks like. I was able to make contributions that actually positively impacted the company and in turn saw what a real job looks like. I also gained knowledge from many people who had 40 plus years of experience in their fields. Overall I gained a lot of knowledge about STEM and agriculture and it will help me later even if I do not pursue a STEM based career.”

“It helped me realize the importance of being food sustainable in any community, so people aren’t questioning when they’ll have their next meal and live a consistent and health fulfilling life. This ties into my future career of becoming a nurse, where I can take care of people and motivate them to grow and eat more produce.”

“This experience has given me a glimpse into what actually working an Ag related job could entail and has allowed me to be sure that Ag is what I’m interested in. I also met a lot of cool, knowledgeable, and positive role models from this internship, as well as acquiring a part-time job opportunity for my future.”

“This experience gave me a better outlook of different kinds of jobs and establishing a good environment in the workplace. This internship is one of a kind and I very much enjoyed it, and chocolate is not chocolate if it’s not Ku’ia.”

“During this internship, I learned how to be a reliable and persistent worker and learner.”

“It helped me understand what agriculture really is. When I first heard agriculture, I thought planting and harvesting. This experience taught me there’s a whole lot more to it than that.”

“Before this internship I thought for sure that I only wanted an art career but after this internship I wouldn’t mind working with plants or on a farm. I think that I would like to find a way where I can combine these two passions of mine.”

“This was fun, 10/10 would do it again!”

“It was an eye opening experience for me and I am grateful for how many opportunities I have gained from partaking in this, such as an interview, a chance to do an apprenticeship, received high school credit, and even a new part-time job. :)”

“I gained leadership skills, great time management skills, and a glimpse into the big world of the AG industry. This internship was a very great experience.”

“Before this internship, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do when I get out of high school, but now I want to pursue a degree in Plant Science.”

“I have learned so much about organic farming, horticulture, sustainability, and life cycles. This internship has widened my perspective and allowed me to see many different jobs that aren’t talked about at school. Because I have completed this internship, I have become more passionate about these topics and I definitely see myself pursuing a career in agriculture in the future.”

“I made wonderful lasting relationships with those I worked with and got to experience what it is like to work in various agricultural environments. I learned more about areas of agriculture I previously had not been very exposed to, gaining a lot in terms of relationships, occupations, and agricultural knowledge.”