Q &A by Dee Ann Littlefield, Public Affairs Specialist, Henrietta, Texas

Hometown:  Lawton, Oklahoma

Current duty station for Pathways Internship:  Iowa Park, Texas

Where are you going to college?  Oklahoma State University (OSU)

What are you studying?  Agribusiness and Agricultural Education

Why did you choose that field of study?  

Since high school, I knew I was going to make in impact in the agriculture industry. However, I walked into college still pretty undecided on what my future career would entail. Thankfully Oklahoma State encourages freshman to diversify their first semester in different studies, which led me to ultimately deciding to dual major in Agribusiness and Agricultural Education. I was lucky enough to find out that with only a few substitutions in courses, it lines me up to come on full time with NRCS.

How did you find out about the NRCS Pathways Internship?

I attended a career fair that OSU had put on and met with a representative from the National Ag Statistics Service (NASS). Being an agribusiness major, it seemed like that would be fitting. However, I continued applying with other USDA agencies just to get my feet wet and stumbled upon NRCS.

What about the internship interested you?

I love being outside, even in the Texas heat. This seemed like a great position to spend more time outside than I could with any other job. During my phone interview, I felt like the ones interviewing me were the nicest, most caring individuals. They seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say, and it made me even more excited to get the congratulations email!

Have you had any prior experience with NRCS?

I walked into this internship blind only knowing what I was told in the interview and what I could find on Google. While that felt like a disadvantage the first few weeks of my first summer, I quickly learned how important the agency is.

What has been your favorite part about the internship?

I have learned so much the last two summers, and I don’t know if I could single out just one favorite part about the internship. I learn something new every day, and my team has done such a great job pushing me to learn more. I have gotten to see many different practices executed by NRCS, and the variety of what our job encompasses is my favorite part that I have gotten to see.

What has been the most challenging part about it?

Before getting this internship, I didn’t plan on having anything to do with grasses and soil in my career. This being said, I have had no prior experience dealing with anything that NRCS works with. I think that has been the most challenging part because I started completely from scratch compared to all the other interns that had more experience in those areas.

As a result of the internship, are you interested in a future with the agency? If so, in what type of position?

Three months ago, I would have said that I was still on the fence about a career with NRCS. But, as a result of this summer, I truly look forward to continuing my internship next summer. I want to start out as a planner and work my way up through the agency, so I can better understand how important each level is in the field office.

Any words of advice you would have to share with future potential Pathways interns?

Take every opportunity and run with it! Even if it isn’t an area you are particularly interested in, the outcome will make you a better future NRCS employee. Great communication skills are so important for this job, so take the opportunity as an intern to observe and practice communicating with producers!

Any other comments?

I would not have made it this far as a Pathways intern without my supervisor, Eileen Vale, and the rest of the Iowa Park team. I am incredibly grateful for every opportunity they have provided me with the last two summers!