What a “Berry” Unique Opportunity I have!  Imagine teaching students about reading and writing, grammar and vocabulary skills for ten months and then spending the entire summer on a produce farm.  Let the fun begin!

For the next five weeks of my Fellowship, I will be working at Cottle Farms with my mentor, John Parker.  John is the director of Muscadine Time, LLC., which is developing Cottle’s new whole fruit smoothie line, Juvn8.  Not only do I get to become acquainted with all aspects of a corporate farm, but I get to spend a majority of my externship working on the production, taste-tasting, market analysis and distribution of Juvn8.

My hope is to introduce my students to corporate produce farming and agribusiness practices unique to Duplin County.  I want to create lessons that integrate STEM practices with America literature and rhetorical analysis by examining the work of John Steinbeck, visual propaganda of the Great Depression and World War II era, and financial requirements for agribusiness in the United States in the 21st Century.  John and I are currently investigating the possibility of bringing Juvn8 to Duplin County Schools!

Whew!  Needless to say, my Fellowship has gotten off to a great start. I look forward to continuing my work with John and Cottle Farms.