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Press Release

Interning with NRCS

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Interns Emily and Ivi side by side

May is typically the time of year that most college students graduate, for two students this is extra special. Emily Brake and Ivi Mitchell have interned for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and will be joining NRCS upon graduation.

RALEIGH, N.C., May 19, 2022 – May is typically the time of year that most college students graduate, for two students this is extra special. Emily Brake and Ivi Mitchell have interned for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and will be joining NRCS upon graduation.

Emily is a Biological and Agricultural Engineering Technology and Environmental Sciences student from N.C. State University. She has worked in Raleigh on team 10 for the past year. In that time, Emily has been introduced to many different tasks in the agency, which includes surveying grass water ways, using advance erosion prediction technology and performed soil erosion scenarios.

“Working with the NRCS team in Wake County has been a dream come true. The Pathways Program has added an immeasurable amount of value to my education and multiple mentors to lead me into the field of conservation in agriculture”, said Emily Brake, recent NRCS Intern.

How does NRCS work? NRCS offers voluntary programs to eligible landowners and agricultural producers to provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner.  Through these programs, the agency approves contracts to implement conservation practices that addresses natural resource concerns or opportunities to help save energy, improve soil, water, plant, air, animal, and related resources on agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land.

NRCS programs hit a little closer to home with Emily. Her family farm has recently participated in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and has been able to implement a Dry Stack and Forced Air Compost Mixer on their poultry farm. She proudly walked across the stage on May 7, 2022. After graduation, Emily will be working as a Soil Conservationist in Elizabeth City, along the North Carolina coast.

Ivi got involved by attending school related activities and exploring the opportunities the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offered. She has interned with NRCS since 2018, working for North Carolina and most recently Alabama due to COVID restrictions. Her interest in NRCS began once she came on board with the agency and gained an understanding of what the agency does and how NRCS help producers continue to produce. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Agriculture with a concentration in Plant and Soil Sciences. This summer in July, she’ll graduate her master’s program with a concentration in Plant and Soil Sciences from Tuskegee University. After graduation, she will be joining a NC-NRCS team in Lumberton, as a Soil Conservationist. Having completed her education, she’s excited to face her new challenges.

“After interning my first summer, I fell in love with being hands on with our producers and understanding their struggles, whether it was environmental related or other factors, being able to aid them with these issues through the agency heighten my interest and has kept me interested in working with NRCS,” said Ivi Mitchell, recent NRCS Intern.

The USDA-NRCS offers internships for high school students, degree-seeking undergraduates and graduate students studying science and agriculture, management, business, technology, and many other fields. The Internship Program provides paid work experiences for students from accredited colleges or universities (including Home-Schooling, Certificate Programs and Community Colleges). Interns may work during the summer, fall, spring or year-round.

“NRCS internship programs are a great way for students to get involved in NRCS.  Every year with look forward to working with the student interns. This gives NRCS and the student an opportunity to determine if working for NRCS is a good fit,” Tim Beard, State Conservationist for NRCS in North Carolina.

NRCS also offers programs for recent graduates from qualifying institutions and through the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF). This program provides recently graduated students, from qualifying educational institutions or programs, with developmental experiences in the Federal Government.  The program is intended to promote possible careers in the civil service. Participants must have obtained a degree or completed a qualifying career or technical education program within the preceding two years. Veterans are eligible to participate in the program within six years of obtaining a degree or upon graduating from a qualifying program.

The PMF supports leadership development for recent graduates who have been pre-qualified or recommended by a network of graduate schools. Graduates are provided with a two-year appointment that may lead to conversion of a permanent appointment.

Find out more about these programs at Student and Recent Graduate Programs | NRCS (usda.gov).

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