2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Land grant universities are well designed to teach crop production, soil science, and related agricultural subjects, but are less well-equipped to teach the soft skills needed for successful employment in agriculture. University-affiliated student farms can offer unique opportunities for students to develop technical and soft skills. Willow Lake Student Farm, a two-acre farm managed and worked by Kansas State University graduate students, undergraduate students, and community volunteers has had success in providing these opportunities. Students can practice these soft skills when interacting and working with each other, the community volunteers, and others through the variety of experiences offered at the farm. Students show leadership in numerous projects and activities on the farm that help develop their soft skills in addition to technical ones. For example, re-covering the high tunnel requires good communication and coordination to assemble and effectively manage student volunteers. Projects such as installing irrigation systems require problem-solving skills and sound decision-making. Meanwhile, students that help with marketing must be well-organized, have good communication skills, and be able to coordinate with students that are managing production at the farm. The interdisciplinary nature of the students and the work required to successfully manage a sustainable farm is not unique to our farm, however that combined with it being a student-run farm means the students have to develop the technical and soft skills or the Farm will fail. In conclusion, through the example of the Willow Lake Student Farm, we demonstrate that a student farm can contribute to universities teaching mission by providing opportunities and experiences for students to gain and practice technical and soft skills.