Meet Simiya Martin: Youth Agriculture Intern Spotlight
The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District recently had the privilege of interviewing Simiya Martin, a recent graduate of Westover High School. Through a sponsorship provided by the District, Miss Martin was able to participate in the Youth Agriculture Internship Program through Flint River Fresh—a unique opportunity that blends agriculture, entrepreneurship, and servant leadership.
This hands-on program equips students with practical skills while empowering them to serve their communities by helping bring fresh, locally grown produce to food-insecure areas. This May, Simiya gave a presentation to the District Board of Supervisors about her experience and how it's influencing her future. We are excited to share more with our conversation with Simiya!
What initially motivated you to apply for this particular internship?
I wanted to learn more about agriculture, so I signed up for a class. Mr. Jackson (Flint River Fresh Director) taught the class and introduced the work-study program to me. Although this internship opportunity was a lot different from my classmates', I quickly agreed to participate.
What is one key skill that you developed or improved during this experience?
Patience. Something I constantly have to remember is that plants do not run on our time. Whether we had to hand-weed beds or simply sit and think about the next task, you have to have patience.
Has this internship influenced your thoughts about your future career path?
When I started the internship, the idea of going to school for agriculture was in the back of my mind. Over the past ten months, I've solidified that decision, and this fall, I'll be attending school for agricultural engineering and technology. Whenever I start to feel nervous about what my future career holds, I remember the absolute sense of community and the wealth of knowledge that exists within the agricultural world.
Just for fun—if you could be any vegetable, which one would you be, and why?
A potato—because they spend most of their time underground, so they're not getting a full ear of the hustle and bustle around them.
