Students harvesting pumpkins have their futures shaped on the farm

Oct 6, 2022

It's starting to look like fall at the Iowa State horticulture research station. There a small group of students is harvesting thousands of pumpkins. And it's more than just a great workout. They're also learning a lot about the fruits and vegetables grown at the research farm. And that knowledge is shaping some of these students' futures. Kira Rieck is an agronomy and global resource systems double major that wanted more hands-on experience working in the fields. She hopes to take her knowledge back to poor communities in Africa, where she's spent time volunteering. Katherine Sutter, meanwhile, discovered a real passion for growing plants while working at the farm. She's now changed her major to horticulture, with hopes of starting her own small farm in the future.