Let's Hopps To It!
Williams pouring freshly harvested hops on the dryer.
Wade Williams, a student at the Institute of Applied Agriculture, realized he enjoyed working in agribusiness after working on a 2,000-acre grain farm that prioritized sustainable agriculture practices. Since then he obtained a degree in Sustainable Agriculture Through Innovation from UMD in May 2020, and he is now taking IAA classes this semester to earn his certificate in Agricultural Business Management.
This summer, Williams interned at Falling Branch Brewery, in Street, MD, where he gained valuable insight into starting and running a business that helped shape him for his future. Inspired by Falling Branch Brewery’s owner Alex Galbreath, Williams says, “Alex has successfully founded a thriving brewery and food truck business. It is inspirational to see a farm given a new purpose, and I hope to carry that inspiration with me throughout my experiences in agriculture.”
In selecting his internship site, Williams hoped to “find [a place] meeting my interests in agriculture business.” He choose the Falling Branch Brewery and, he adds, “It was close enough so I could bike to work!”
Some of Williams’ responsibilities at the brewery include picking up orders, making deliveries, and calling service providers from various industries. Additionally, he cooked, cleaned, and maintained, and harvested hops.
He says his favorite parts of the job were making deliveries, landscaping around the farm, and bar backing. During his internship, Williams found it interesting that the brewery is in the process of building a brewhouse so that they can begin to make all of their beer on-site.
Working at the brewery has shaped part of Williams’ career plans. He “believes that agriculture is the foundation of human society and also practicing sustainable/regenerative agriculture is the most direct way to repair damage caused by humans while still producing goods for humans.” Williams believes his internship experience was valuable and rememberable. In addition to learning about the daily operations and challenges of operating a farm brewery, he learned about the supply chain for the business and how to operate a food truck. Not to mention, he applied some lessons such as identifying weeds and suggesting integrated management strategies from his IAA classes to his work at the brewery.
This on-farm experience helped Williams fill a huge gap. Meredith Epstein, his internship advisor, says, “Wade had to make a change of summer plans due to the pandemic, and created a great opportunity for himself at the brewery. He has gotten to witness some interesting business pivots as the farming and alcohol industries have had to adapt to the economic effects of COVID-19.”
For anyone that is interested in interning at the Falling Branch Brewery, Williams recommends “being open-minded and trying a bunch of new things.” With all the interesting activities and work responsibilities, Williams met his goal. Once he completes his IAA certificate, Williams plans to volunteer abroad on different farms through programs such as WWOOFing and the Peace Corps.
