LEXINGTON, Ky. – Caroline Groth, a sophomore in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, hopes her name will someday be on the ballot for Kentucky’s Commissioner of Agriculture. Her recent internship with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) was a step toward that “dream job.”

Along with fellow students from the University of Kentucky and other Kentucky colleges, Groth spent the summer gaining first-hand experience and knowledge of KDA’s role in the agriculture industry.

During her internship, Groth worked in the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy, which supports efforts to provide grants, incentives and low-interest loans to help farmers and agribusinesses grow. Much of her job involved traveling across the state to attend county-level meetings and other events.

Groth recently finished her year as state FFA president, a role that took her across Kentucky. Her KDA internship introduced her to even more places and experiences across the state.

“Commissioner Shell has let us travel with him so much, which has been my favorite part of the job,” Groth said. “I love networking, I love talking to people, and I feel like that’s something I’ve gotten to do a lot at KDA.”

The daughter of two Martin-Gatton CAFE alumni, Groth is pursuing a dual degree in agricultural education and agricultural economics. She took an introductory ag econ course with professor Allison Davis last year that proved very helpful in her internship.

“We learned about things from the urban service boundary to our current economy and how it’s affecting agriculture,” Groth said. “All of those things have helped me in my day to day.”

All Martin-Gatton CAFE students are required to do a form of experiential learning. Internships, one of the options, are a great way to complement what is learned in the classroom.

“KDA’s internship program offers college students an opportunity to work alongside our employees and agriculture community for a unique one-on-one experience,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell in a KDA press release. “This mentorship program provides a great advantage to those who want to continue in the agriculture field, helping to launch careers in ag-related fields.”

The KDA internship was crucial for building Groth’s connections and resume, moving her in the right direction for her future goals.

“I’ve learned so much, and I’m very fortunate to have had this opportunity this summer,” Groth said. “I know wherever I go with my future career, I want to make an impact on Kentucky agriculture.”

KDA’s six UK summer interns were Jackson Baird, Wade Carrington, Caroline Groth, Karissa Hamilton, Jack Matthews and Angelina Sonoqui.

To learn more about student success and programs at Martin-Gatton CAFE, visit https://students.ca.uky.edu.