By Erin Pruitt, Intern, Kern County Farm Bureau
As the granddaughter of a migrant farm worker, and a student who grew up next to one of Grimmway Farm’s carrot fields, agriculture has been a constant in my life. I remember traveling around Kern County — and throughout California — being fascinated by the various types of crops and animals surrounding me. This often occurred while listening to my grandpa talk about the fields we were passing and the crops he picked decades prior. These stories influenced my perspective of Kern County and continue to shape my view of the agricultural industry.
Years later, I am excited to join this industry through an internship between the Grimm Family Center for Agricultural Business (GFC) at California State University, Bakersfield, and the Kern County Farm Bureau. While opportunities and connections between agriculture and academia have always been strong in Kern County, this internship is new for CSUB students.
The Grimm Family Center for Agricultural Business was founded through a $5 million pledge of support by Barbara Grimm-Marshall and Kari Grimm Anderson. At the time of donation, this was the single largest gift in CSUB’s history and celebrated the 50th anniversary of CSUB and Grimmway Farms. Thanks to the Grimm family’s generosity, opportunities were created for students to learn about the agriculture industry and gain experience from industry professionals.
Throughout the academic year, the GFC hosts a monthly Speaker Series led by industry experts to discuss various topics relating to agriculture. The GFC provides yearly opportunities for students to gain experience through research or internships. For students seeking research opportunities, the GFC provides a scholarship to help with the associated costs to research their topic and the opportunity to present their findings during the fall Student Research Symposium.
For those seeking internship opportunities, the GFC hosts a Growing Opportunities Career Fair, connecting students to internships and jobs within the agricultural industry in addition to promoting an internship at the Kern County Farm Bureau.
For Kiley Nairn, GFC 2024 Summer Intern, it was through the Growing Opportunities Career Fair that she learned about the center’s partnership with the Kern County Farm Bureau. As the daughter of a fourth-generation cattle rancher, Nairn is no stranger to the industry and has been influenced by it from a young age.
Nairn’s favorite memory associated with agriculture is her family’s Thanksgiving tradition at her family ranch in Porterville, California. On Thanksgiving Day, her family comes together for a big lunch to celebrate the holiday before returning to Bakersfield to celebrate individually. However, the next day Nairn’s family returns to the ranch to herd, sort, and brand their cattle. Nairn explained the excitement and importance of this tradition to her family and their ranch.
Nairn is in her final semester at CSUB, where she is currently studying business administration with a concentration in marketing. While her degree pathway does not have a focus in agriculture, she hopes that the personal and professional experience she gained from this internship will improve her chances of joining the agriculture industry upon graduation. Nairn credits this internship with teaching her how to talk professionally to both members and individuals, and she hopes to continue building these crucial communication skills.
Like Nairn, I began my internship with the Kern County Farm Bureau through the GFC. Since then, I have gained irreplaceable knowledge relating to my career and this wonderful industry. For the past year, I have had the pleasure of learning about the annual events the Kern County Farm Bureau hosts and their significance. Additionally, this internship strengthened my verbal and written communication skills, allowing me to build a portfolio that will serve as my foundation as I enter the professional field.
Thanks to the influence and impact of agriculture in Kern County, Nairn and I were provided irreplaceable opportunities to grow as professionals, and our skills gained from these internships are a product of Kern County’s agriculture industry.
For CSUB students looking for upcoming events and internship opportunities, please visit the GFC’s website for more information. For additional information about the center please email gfc@csub.edu.
