CCCC hosts student farm tour

PITTSBORO, N.C. - In an inspiring blend of education, hands-on experience, and community collaboration, Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) recently welcomed local high school students to its CCCC Student Farm on the Chatham Main Campus for a unique and engaging tour. The event, spearheaded by Angie Oliva, USDA Southeast Transition to Organic Partnership Program Coordinator, aimed to spark interest in sustainable agriculture among rural youth and open doors to career paths they might not have previously considered.

From Classroom to Crops: How the Event Took Root

The idea for the farm tour grew out of earlier outreach efforts by CCCC’s Sustainable Agriculture Program. Last year, Angelina Oliva and her team conducted workshops for high school students from the Levante Leadership Institute, a project of Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF). The workshops revealed a significant gap in knowledge about sustainable and organic farming among rural youth.

“It became clear to us that there was little awareness of these topics,” said Oliva. “We thought it would be good to invite local high school students from CCCC's service areas to come and visit the farm, to learn about all the education, training, and career opportunities available for them in sustainable, organic, and regenerative fields.”

Planting Seeds of Opportunity

With the help of multiple partners, the event blossomed into a memorable experience. Ten organizations participated, offering talks, demonstrations, and guidance on the wide range of paths within sustainable agriculture. The goal? To leave students with a lasting impression.

“Our hope was to give students an opportunity to interact with the Student Farm in a way that created a lasting impression about small-scale organic farming,” Oliva explained. “And if they are interested in returning as students for our Sustainable Agriculture Program, they feel confident in being able to reach out to us.”

Getting Their Hands Dirty — In the Best Way

The students didn’t just observe — they rolled up their sleeves and dove in. Activities included harvesting kohlrabi and planting peppers, giving participants a tangible taste of farm life.

“The students loved the on-farm activities,” said Oliva. “They appreciated that this event was planned especially for them. Interacting with high school youth means taking the time to explain new terminology and helping them engage with content in fun ways. I hope we achieved that!”

Many of the students had visited the farm previously during 8th grade field trips, but this time, the experience was deeper and more personal. “It’s great to see new students on the farm and even better when they return to be a part of the Sustainable Agriculture Program,” she added.

Cultivating Awareness and Confidence

The team at CCCC hopes that students walked away with more than just memories — their goal was to spark curiosity and build confidence. “We hope the students have an encouraging picture of what small-scale organic farming looks like, right here in their county,” Oliva said. “We also hope they now feel like they have access to knowledge about an education and career field they might have never considered or even knew was available to them.”

For Oliva, one of the most rewarding parts of the event was seeing the students make personal connections with agriculture. “I enjoyed sharing how each of us plays an important part in agriculture because we all eat,” she said. “It was wonderful to see them ask thoughtful questions and witness the joy in their eyes as they interacted with the plants.”

Farrell Moose, CCCC Farm Manager/Instructor, noted: “Great questions and good engagement from the group made for a fun event on the farm.  I hope that the experience of planting peppers, harvesting crops and learning about our local foodshed opens doors for the group.”

Robin Kohanowich, Lead Instructor of Sustainable Agriculture at CCCC, shared her enthusiasm about the tour, noting that one of the most rewarding aspects was seeing the students' genuine curiosity about careers in agriculture. She noted that she hopes this positive experience inspires them to return to CCCC in the future.

Powered by Partnership

This event was the second youth outreach initiative this year, made possible through the USDA Southeast Transition to Organic Partnership Program (USDA SE TOPP). CCCC collaborates with key organizations like the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA), Florida Organic Growers (FOG), and others through USDA SE TOPP to advance sustainable agriculture education.

Special thanks went to AgSouth Farm Credit and The Hispanic Liaison for sponsoring lunch, and to community partners including 4H Juntos, SAF, and The Hispanic Liaison for helping to plan and bring students to the event.

As the fields at CCCC’s Student Farm continue to thrive, so too does a growing network of young minds inspired by the possibilities of a greener, more sustainable future in agriculture. And for many students, this event may have been their first step toward becoming the next leaders in the field.