Investing in Tomorrow's Leaders: The ICCSD Farm-to-Future Earth Internship School

View the project final report

Commodities

• Vegetables: cabbages, garlic, greens (leafy), greens (lettuces), tomatoes

Practices

• Crop Production: cover crops
• Education and Training: demonstration, mentoring, youth education
• Pest Management: biological control
• Sustainable Communities: food access and security

The ICCSD Farm-to-Future Earth Internship School proposed a comprehensive program to cultivate future leaders in sustainable agriculture. Addressing the global food system's challenges, it offered young adults immersive experiences, including fieldwork at the Johnson County Poor Farm, interactive seminars, and field trips to diverse sustainable agriculture models. The program bridged the gap between education and career exploration, offering dual credits through Kirkwood Community College and completion stipends. It emphasized community engagement through presentations and media. A SARE Grant of $6,000 supported the coordination of trips, stipends, and lunches, aiming to empower a new generation to transform food systems sustainably.  In terms of Field Trips, students visited the Iowa City Farmers Market, Kirkwood Community College Farm and the Iowa State Agriculture Careers Fair in Washington County.

The ICCSD Farm-to-Future Earth Internship School was a summer educational program designed to provide students with hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture, local food systems, and community leadership. Hosted primarily at Grow Johnson County (located at the historic Johnson County Poor Farm), the internship combined physical farm work with educational field trips and policy learning.

Key Dates & Schedule

The program sessions occurred on these days:

• June 2025 Dates:

  • Monday, June 9th & Tuesday, June 10th

  • Saturday, June 14th or 28th: Visit to Iowa City Farmer’s Market and Johnson County Extension Office

  • Wednesday, June 18th: Johnson County Food Policy Presentation

  • Thursday, June 19th

  • Wednesday, June 25th & Thursday, June 26th

• July 2025 Dates:

  • Wednesday, July 9th: Field trip to Kirkwood Farm and SunDog Farms

  • Thursday, July 10th

  • Wednesday, July 16th & Thursday, July 17th

• October 2025:

  • Fall Ag Career Fair at Washington County Outreach Center

Core Activities & Experiences

• Hands-on Farming: Interns worked directly at the Grow Johnson County farm (4811 Melrose Ave, Iowa City). Tasks included planting saplings in the greenhouse, harvesting crops, picking bugs, cutting dead stems, washing bins, and maintaining the grounds regardless of weather conditions.

• Educational Field Trips:

  • Kirkwood Community College: Toured agricultural facilities and received program overview for career pathways

  • SunDog Farms: Visited on July 9th and learned about sustainable farming.  Visited this diverse farm (goats, chickens, dogs) to learn about direct-to-consumer relationships and non-certified farming practices.

• Curriculum Topics learning during the Internship during the 10 day experience:

  • Differences between naturally grown and GMO crops.

  • Natural pesticide use and food safety procedures.

  • Harvesting techniques and crop maintenance.

  • The history of the Johnson County Poor Farm (est. 1855) and its role in supporting residents in poverty.

Outcomes & Benefits

• Academic Credit: Student participants earned Kirkwood Community College credit for the course WBL 200 (1 College Credit / 5 HS credits).

• Financial Compensation: Students received a $200 stipend upon completion of all activities to compensate for clothing, sunscreen, tools, and food.

• Professional Development: Students gained insight into the dedication required for farming, the value of hard work, and the importance of supporting local food economies.

• Networking: Opportunities to connect with local farmers, policy makers (Johnson County Food Policy Council), and agricultural professionals.

Our program provided a dynamic, hands-on learning experience for young adults, immersing them in the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture. Through:

• 10 intensive field days at the JCHPF, participants will gain practical horticultural skills, working alongside experienced mentors to cultivate and harvest crops using sustainable methods. This was completed in July and August of 2025.
• Interactive Seminars foster critical thinking and a deeper understanding of complex topics like modern food systems, social responsibility, and the environmental impact of agriculture.
• 3 Strategic Career field trips expose students to diverse sustainable agriculture models in action, from cutting-edge urban farms to established organizations championing sustainable practices.  All three of these field trips were completed successfully.