Hello! My name is Ayiana Biddle and I’m a new intern for the 2022 Student Farm cohort. I’m currently finishing up my junior year in the College of Agriculture at Penn State University. My major is Agricultural Science and I’m minoring in Horticulture. I enjoy learning new things and I love working outdoors.
Growing up, I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do in the future. I spent a lot of summers at my maternal grandparent’s home where they had a beautiful garden that my grandfather attended to every day. He grew everything from fruits, vegetables, to flowers and ornamental plants. My grandparents are from the Philippines where my grandfather gained extensive knowledge in agriculture. He was a rice farmer and managed a mango plantation for many years. In the summer, I would help him in the garden planting, weeding, and harvesting. I made some of my best memories there and I saw how dedicated and caring my grandfather was to his garden. I had so much fun and found peace working in nature and caring for plants. These experiences inspired me to study agriculture and hopefully manage my own agribusiness in the future.
I chose to study at Penn State because of the vast opportunities offered and the various pathways that can be taken in the College of Agriculture. There’s so much to do and get involved in at Penn State like Student Farm Club, Hydroponics, Student Farm, greenhouse work, and more. At first glance, I saw a big school with a lot of people which was intimidating. However, within my focus of study I found a community of people with similar interests as me which gave me a greater sense of belonging and comfort.
I’ve volunteered on the Student Farm and found the work very fulfilling. I realized that there are many factors that contribute to managing a successful farm and a major part of that is planning. Since starting this internship, I learned about specific requirements needed to grow certain crops, planting dates, farm design, specific tools needed on the farm, sustainability practices and community outreach. The Student Farm focuses on sustainability which is beneficial for both the crops and environment. It’s exciting to learn and apply their sustainable farming practices like IPM (integrated pest management), cover crops, and composting.
I am grateful for this opportunity to intern for Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student farm. I’m sure I will make many more memories as I continue this internship, and the knowledge and skills I will gain from this experience will help me manage my future agribusiness.