Mason and crew mowing around the farm.
Many people dream of owning their own business. They seek freedom, a sense of accomplishment, and self-sufficiency. Mason Banner, a Sustainable Agriculture major at the Institute of Applied Agriculture, got to experience that feeling during the summer of 2018. And, he says it’s not for him.
Interning for first-year business gave Banner a taste of what running a small business is really like. Banner, a second -year student at the IAA, worked for Sandy Spring Gardens, a sustainable farm in Ashton, Maryland. He weeded and prepped plant beds, harvested crops, and assisted with sales. His favorite part of the job was learning about the process of growing vegetables. Banner says he enjoyed working outside and independently, and learning the science behind plant growth. Yet, what he found most interesting was the amount of work it takes to start a business and the stress it puts on both the managers and employees.
Overall, Banner’s internship was a good experience. He gained a lot of respect for his manager’s and supervisor’s work ethic, and he commends them for trying to start their own business. As much as he admires his manager’s passion, Banner says starting a business isn’t for him. “Working for a startup is an engaging and frustrating process because of the logistics involved in starting a company. Rewarding, yet frustrating,” explained Banner.
Banner valued the company’s firm policy on using no chemicals on any of their produce; it gave him the opportunity to learn different sustainable agricultural practices as well as how to manage and grow crops organically and efficiently. And, he very much valued his independence and the peacefulness of working alone. He still loves working outside and managing crops, but now Banner says he hopes to be able to use agriculture to help others in third world countries one day.
