Story by Melissa Blair, Public Affairs Specialist Photos by NRCS Staff and Interns

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas hosted 49 interns this summer to teach them how NRCS meets its mission to deliver conservation solutions so agricultural producers can protect natural resources and feed a growing world. 

Student interns who are hired through www.usajobs.gov are part of the Pathways Internship Program. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job with the NRCS.

Other student interns were part of the Natural Resource Career Development Program (NRCDP) Third Party Internship program. The program includes students who received the 1890s National Scholars Program, Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarship or other USDA scholarships. 

One of the newer internship opportunities that NRCS in Texas has been working with is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) NextGen grant. The grant allows colleges to provide funding for students participating to onboard as third-party interns with USDA agencies

“These opportunities provide students with an in-depth look at the daily work of NRCS staff and how we help producers address a wide array of natural resource concerns,” said NRCS Texas State Conservationist Kristy Oates. “All internships are designed to put aspiring students on career paths towards permanent employment with NRCS.” 

Internships Lead to Future Careers

For many of the students, this experience was their first time away from home, and for some, their first time away from their home state. 

“The best part of my internship experience was going to the field to physically see the conservation practices developed by the program, traveling to a different state and my co-workers who were so supportive and helpful,” said Jennifer Alfaro, an environmental engineering major from California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly) in Humbolt who interned in Amarillo. “The experience complements my academic goals and has given me a better idea on which direction I would like to take in my future career.”

“I want to work with the NRCS in the future,” said Sayra Montesinos, also an environmental engineering student at Cal Poly, who interned in Lubbock. “The in-person technical trainings were a great learning experience on how to navigate through the spreadsheets and other programs that engineers work on.”

Both students were a part of the Indian Natural Resources, Science & Engineering Program (INRSEP) at Cal Poly.

The internships also solidified some students’ college classroom learning and future career goals. 

“It has been really helpful to gain some real-world experience,” said Abigail Terry, an agricultural business major from Angelo State University who interned in the Eldorado field office. “Working this summer with producers and NRCS employees that deal with conservation issues daily, has made a lot of what I am learning in school make more sense. I gained practical knowledge in real life situations.” 

Interns Learn What is Important

“I’ve learned how important communication is,” said Oklahoma State University student Calli Breaux, who interned in Nacogdoches and was completing her second summer as a Pathways intern. “Whether it be with others in your zone, or with landowners, being able to effectively communicate is an incredible skill to have.”

Joshua Bushell, an agriculture major from Texas State University was onboarded as a third-party intern through the USDA NIFA NextGen grant. He said, “The most important thing that I learned during my internship was to trust myself more. I learned if I am confident in my processes, people would let me try things on my own and simply show the right way if I am wrong.”

Having been through the NRCS internship, I believe it has helped me get closer to my goal by having experience,” said Pedro Garza, who is a range and wildlife major at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and worked in the Rio Grande City NRCS office. “Not everyone gets that opportunity. The most important thing I learned was how to properly talk and work with producers. I was able to try and envision their plan to help them achieve their conservation goals.”

“Each student took away different experiences and skills from their summer internship, but it is certain that their time will benefit them in the classroom and in their future career,” said Oates. “We look forward to continuing to work with the students as they advance through their formal education and conservation careers.”

For more information on careers and opportunities with the USDA NRCS, visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/careers.