Last semester I took a class called “The Principles of Horticulture” and in that class we had one lab meeting per week in one of the hoop houses at DFI. Everyone in the class had a 5 foot long section of a bed where we each attempted to grow 5 different kinds of produce. I enjoyed this experience so much that when I saw an available internship position at DFI I jumped at the opportunity. Fast forward 6 months and I am now at the end of my internship where I can positively say that the DFI internship is one of the best real-life experiences available to agriculture students at UNR! This internship ties everything you learn in the classroom together from biology to horticulture and you get working experience on a producing farm. By getting this DFI experience I feel I will be much more prepared for the agricultural industry I am diving into after college! The experiences I have had at DFI developed my professional skills through on-farm training and being a part of a working team.

Throughout my time at DFI, a big focus has been on-farm plant propagation. On-farm plant propagation plays a significant role in supporting climate-smart fruit and vegetable production in several ways. On-farm propagation encourages the preservation of genetic diversity within crops. This diversity can help plants adapt to changing climatic conditions, such as temperature fluctuations, altered precipitation patterns, and emerging pests and diseases. Another positive outcome from on-farm propagations is local food security. By propagating plants on-farm, we can contribute to local food security by ensuring a reliable supply of diverse and nutritious fruits and vegetables.