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Name: 

Lindsay Paul

Workforce training program(s) completed at Eastern:

• Farm Fellowship Program – 2023

Are you still taking training programs? If so, where and what training are you working toward?

After completing the farm fellowship, I continued to learn through online gardening classes I took in the fall of 2023. This led me to continue my learning by becoming a 2024 Master Gardener Trainee where I’ve had the opportunity to continue learning about horticulture through Dr. Jett, Dr. Quesada, and many others.

Current Employer/Job (if applicable):

Hardy County Schools, substitute teacher.

What is something you learned (knowledge, training, skills) during Eastern’s Workforce training program that you utilize in your workplace and/or current training?

The agribusiness and food safety coursework gave me the knowledge to apply to my former job at Buena Vista Farm, specifically with marketing and business practices. I was fortunate that my mentor, Miriam Leatherman provided the opportunity to apply some of what I learned to my mentorship and job.

The horticulture management systems training has been invaluable in setting up my home garden, from designing the irrigation system to managing pests effectively. The knowledge gained from the trainings and farm fellowship has significantly prepared me for the Master Gardener program and growing food.

Did trainers/instructors/staff at Eastern contribute to your career success? How did they help you?

The team of trainers who make this program possible are outstanding. Dr. Dee’s agribusiness courses have given me skills that I can apply to any business practice. Dr. Jett’s trainings allowed the opportunity to see horticulture practices firsthand by visiting local farms. Dr. Quesada’s Integrated Pest Management course was very helpful in being able to identify and understand the life cycle of certain pests along with how to prevent them.

The staff at Eastern were wonderful to work with as well. Trish Halterman and Maya Paul were always so welcoming at trainings. Trish always made sure I had everything I needed and provided so much support throughout the program to ensure a positive experience. There were a few trainings I missed because of work so Trish set up times for me to visit the farm I missed going to for a private tour and opportunity to learn in addition to sending me all the materials and access to recorded sessions.

What advice would you give to current Workforce students at Eastern who are looking to follow a similar path to a job?

I’d highly recommend the Farm Fellowship Program opportunity to anyone who is interested in agriculture, horticulture, or just growing/producing food. And if you have any doubts, just go for it because you may surprise yourself with where it takes you and who you meet along the way!

Please feel free to share recent accomplishments and achievements in the workforce (within last year): include projects, awards, and any relevant information.

Success for me has been the confidence I’ve gained by getting outside my comfort zone and trying something new by participating in the Farm Fellowship Program.

This program and internship helped get me on the path I’m on today which is my commitment to growing my own food. I believe this experience will carry with me throughout my lifetime. All that I’ve learned and experienced will also be applicable to any future field that I find myself in.

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Are you an Eastern graduate? Have you completed an Ag workforce training program at Eastern? Are you a former Early Entrance student who transferred credits to another college or university? If you are, and you want to share your success story, we would love to hear from you! Email marketing@easternwv.edu today!