Virginia Tech Agricultural Technology

Sunday may have marked the official start of summer, but 42 Agricultural Technology students are already more than a month into their summer internships, and we can't wait to see all they accomplish!

Internships are a required part of the AT program, giving students the opportunity to apply what they've learned in class, try new things, and gain valuable industry experience. Whether they're working just down the road or across the country, each internship helps students build skills, confidence, and professional connections thanks to the internship hosts.

This summer, our students are completing internships in:
📍 Maryland
📍 Massachusetts
📍 Nebraska
📍 New York
📍 Pennsylvania
📍 Texas
📍 Utah
📍 Virginia
📍 Wyoming

We look forward to hearing their stories and seeing the impact of these experiences when they return to campus this fall!

Proud to celebrate Ag Tech alumna Zoe Dunlow as she makes history at the Virginia Tech Tidewater AREC—congratulations!🎉

🎉 Congratulations to our John Lee Pratt Agricultural Technology Animal Nutrition Research Scholarship recipients, Sara Moore and Chase Bower!

Sara is from Fauquier, Virginia and earned a place on the Dean’s List every semester at Virginia Tech. She was a member of Young Farmers Club and the Beef Leadership Council at Virginia Tech. Sara served as a peer mentor, and an AT Ambassador. She completed her internship at Culpepper Farm and Home Center.

Chase, from Franklin County, Virginia, was an active member of Block & Bridle and the Western Riding Team. He completed his internship at IX Ranch in Montana, gaining hands-on experience working cattle on horseback.

As John Lee Pratt undergraduate research scholars, Sara and Chase completed a year-long project examining the effects of nitrogen fertilizer on the yield and nutritive value of stockpiled tall fescue. Their work marked the final year of a four-year study, contributing valuable insight into nitrogen application in stockpiled forage systems.

From November through April, they traveled monthly to field sites in Elliston and Steeles Tavern, Virginia, to harvest plots. Back in Blacksburg, they dried, weighed, and prepared samples for analysis, with final testing completed by an independent lab in April.

Their research will help producers make more informed decisions about stockpiled tall fescue management. Sara also did an excellent job sharing their findings with her class and guests from the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council during the AT Spring Grazing Day.

👏 Great work, Sara and Chase!

Congratulations to Kaleb Hummer, our 2025 Outstanding Intern Award winner for Landscape & Turf Management!

This award recognizes a graduating Agricultural Technology student who stepped outside their comfort zone and showed growth through their internship experience. Kaleb’s internship helped strengthen both his skills and confidence within the turf industry.

Kaleb completed his internship at The Hollows Golf Club in Hanover County, Virginia. During his time there, he gained hands-on experience in golf course maintenance and daily operations. His responsibilities included maintaining the course through tasks such as mowing greens and fairways while learning the importance of precision and consistency in turf management.

Kaleb is from Richmond, Virginia, and is a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. During his time as a student, he also worked through Facebook Marketplace while balancing his coursework and internship experience.

Kaleb’s internship stood out not only for the range of skills he developed, but also for the growth he showed afterward in the classroom. He returned from his internship with greater focus and a stronger connection between what he experienced in the field and what he was learning in class.

Congratulations to Kaleb on this recognition and for the effort he put into developing new skills and experiences throughout the Agricultural Technology Program!

Congratulations to Joe Gibson, our Outstanding Intern Award winner for Applied Agricultural Management for the summer of 2025!

This award recognizes a graduating Agricultural Technology student who stepped outside their comfort zone and showed growth through their internship experience. Joe’s hard work and willingness to learn made him a great fit for this recognition.

Joe completed his internship with Senterfitt & VA Cattle Companies in Madison County, Virginia, a large commercial cow-calf operation that also operates a livestock auction and cattle buying facility serving producers across the region. During his internship, Joe gained hands-on experience in both the cattle operation and auction side of the business.
His responsibilities included:
• Taking in cattle at the auction barn
• Working within the stocker operation
• Feeding and treating cattle
• Handling and working cattle
• Supporting overall pasture management
• Learning the daily management of both the cattle operation and livestock auction

Through this experience, Joe expanded his knowledge of the beef industry and applied what he learned back in the classroom during his second year in the AT Program.

Joe is from Orange County, Virginia, and throughout his time at Virginia Tech he received the Somerset Steam & Gas Engine Association Scholarship, the James Wilson Memorial Scholarship, and the Orange County Farm Bureau Scholarship. In addition to his studies, Joe also worked for Scott Sink and Piney Wood Feeders & Fence during his time in the program.

After graduation, Joe plans to work on a cow-calf operation in Orange County, Virginia.

Congratulations to Joe on this recognition and for the effort he put into growing his skills and experience throughout the Agricultural Technology Program!

🎉 Congratulations to Logan Moon!
Logan is the 2026 Agricultural Technology Rising Professional Award winner for Landscape & Turf Management. The Rising Professional Award is given to a student who impressed us with their professional growth made within their industry during their time in the AT Program.

Logan is from Amelia, Virginia, where he earned both the Farm Bureau Scholarship and the Southside Opportunity Fund Scholarship. At Virginia Tech, he participated in intramural sports and Baptist Collegiate Ministries, earned Dean’s List honors multiple semesters, and competed in the National Collegiate Landscaping Competition. He also served as both an AT Ambassador and a peer mentor.

Logan completed his internship at Hudgins Outdoor Solutions, where he took on a variety of roles, including serving as a crew member on a hardscape and a landscape installation crew. In this role, he strengthened his communication skills by working directly with customers on job sites. Throughout his time as a student, Logan also maintained his Twin Oaks Landscaping LLC business alongside his brother. After graduation, he plans to continue and expand the business with his brother, who is also a recent graduate of the AT Program.

👏 Logan’s dedication, leadership, and commitment to growth make him truly deserving of this recognition—congratulations!

Please join us in congratulating Mack Blackwell, the 2026 Agricultural Technology Rising Professional Award recipient in Applied Agricultural Management!

The Rising Professional Award recognizes a student who has demonstrated exceptional professional growth within their industry during their time in the AT Program—and Mack exemplifies this honor in every way.

A native of Floyd County, Virginia, Mack has made the most of his time at Virginia Tech. His dedication and hard work have earned him multiple honors, including the Floyd County Farm Bureau Scholarship, the Virginia Crop Production Association Scholarship, and the Virginia FFA Produce Scholarship. Beyond academics, Mack has also given back to the program by serving as a peer mentor, supporting fellow students in their growth and success.

Mack gained valuable hands-on experience through his internship with SWVA Biochar, where he took on responsibilities in upper yard management and completed a range of farmhand duties. His commitment to agriculture extends well beyond the classroom—throughout his college career, he has worked on his family farm, expanded his custom-spreading business, and continued part-time work with SWVA Biochar.

During a site visit at SWVA Biochar and Wall-Wade Farms in Floyd, VA, Mack’s supervisor highlighted his strong work ethic and entrusted him with responsibilities that contributed to the company’s growth. One of Mack’s most impressive accomplishments is earning his certification as a Virginia Certified Nutrient Management Planner—a significant professional milestone. He is already applying this expertise by writing nutrient management plans for multiple farms, including his own.

In addition to these achievements, Mack plays a key role in managing his family’s beef cattle operation, all while commuting approximately 40 minutes each way from Floyd County and maintaining a near-perfect GPA.

Mack’s humility, professionalism, and unwavering dedication set him apart. His accomplishments reflect not only his talent and drive, but also his deep commitment to agriculture and his community. We can think of no one more deserving of this recognition.

👏 Congratulations, Mack—we are proud to celebrate your success and look forward to all you will accomplish in the future!

🌟 Outstanding Peer Mentor Award
Congratulations, Kadynce Van Hoven! 🌟
The Outstanding Peer Mentor Award is presented to a student who goes above and beyond in demonstrating excellence in mentoring. At Virginia Tech, peer mentors serve a vital dual role—as advocates and resource agents—guiding first-year students through the transition to college life.

We are proud to recognize Kadynce Van Hoven as this year’s Outstanding Peer Mentor!

Kadynce, who is from Rapidan, Virginia, has made a strong impact both inside and outside the classroom. She served as a teaching assistant for the Livestock Reproduction class and earned Dean’s List honors for fall 2024, spring 2025, and fall 2025—a testament to her academic dedication.
Kadynce completed her internship at Battlefield Farms, where she gained valuable experience in event preparation and greenhouse management. In addition, she worked at an off-campus equine facility, further expanding her hands-on experience in the industry.

As a peer mentor, Kadynce demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication. She led insightful group discussions, presented timely and relevant topics, and provided unwavering support to her students. She navigated a particularly lively group with confidence and consistency, showing professionalism and a deep commitment to her peers.

Kadynce built meaningful connections with her mentees, communicated thoughtfully and consistently, and offered valuable feedback during weekly team meetings—insights that will continue to strengthen the mentor program for years to come.

Please join us in celebrating Kadynce Van Hoven as this year’s Outstanding Peer Mentor! 👏

🌟 Agricultural Technology Ut Prosim Award: Landscape & Turf Management
Congratulations, Brayton Crews! 🌟

Brayton Crews has been named the 2026 Agricultural Technology Ut Prosim Award winner for Landscape & Turf Management. Since arriving on campus in fall 2024, Brayton has been an outstanding representative of the Agricultural Technology (AT) Program.

During his time at Virginia Tech, Brayton was an active member of the Turfgrass Club and served as a dedicated AT Program ambassador, connecting with prospective students, families, and university leadership. He also competed in the 2026 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Collegiate Student Turf Bowl Competition and volunteered at both the 2025 and 2026 Dominion Energy Charity Classic—demonstrating his commitment to service and professional growth.

Originally from Hanover County, Virginia, Brayton received the Virginia Turfgrass Association (VTA) Scholarship in fall 2025. Throughout his time as a student, he worked at the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the field.

Brayton completed his internship at Merion Golf Club in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, where he took on responsibilities in ergonomic practices, water management, and crew management. Following graduation, he will continue advancing his career with an extended internship/assistant-in-training position at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida this June.

Brayton truly embodies the spirit of “Ut Prosim” (That I May Serve) through his consistent service, leadership, and initiative. Whether representing the Agricultural Technology program or coordinating his peers on projects at the Virginia Tech Golf Course, he leads by example and elevates those around him. His dedication to service—and to the success of the AT Program—makes him exceptionally deserving of this honor. 👏