Agriculture teachers Maghan Miller and Amber Carter partnered with members of our local agricultural community to bring this experience to life. Community partners volunteered to serve as mock employers, offering students a chance to apply for positions that interested them. In preparation, students created professional resumes and cover letters, which were reviewed by our school counselors, who provided feedback to help strengthen their applications.
On Tuesday morning, students arrived dressed professionally and ready to interview for their chosen positions. Each student participated in an interview with a community partner and was evaluated and ranked based on their performance. Students will receive individual feedback highlighting their strengths as well as areas for continued growth.
The experience continued with a luncheon that brought together students, community partners, administrators, and counselors. Seating was intentionally arranged so students could sit among school staff and community professionals, creating opportunities for meaningful conversation and networking. Mrs. Miller opened the luncheon by emphasizing the importance of knowing how to communicate with professionals and understanding the value of building relationships and making connections.
The luncheon also provided students with valuable information about opportunities available to them after graduation. Darian Long from Grimmway Produce Group shared information about the many internship opportunities available through the company and how students can pursue them. Clay Freeman, Kern High School District's Agriculture Lead and a representative of the Kern Ag Foundation, highlighted the numerous scholarships available to students pursuing agricultural studies in college. He emphasized that relatively few students apply for these scholarships, meaning there is significant financial support available for students willing to take advantage of the opportunities.
Liberty FFA Vice President Paisley Harris closed the luncheon by sharing how valuable the experience had been for her and the importance of having opportunities like this to build confidence and prepare for the future.
Liberty FFA President Farah Fuller also shared, "I chose to apply for an entry level sales associate position, focusing on the degree of Agribusiness. I went into the interview prepared with my answers to possible questions, but it was more of a personal conversation. My interviewer just wanted to know about me, so the questions would lead into a direction where he could go deeper into knowing my character. This gave me the chance to talk to business professionals in the agriculture industry, and I got to the know the different jobs that are in the industry."
Career Connections was much more than a mock interview day. It gave students an opportunity to practice professional communication, showcase their skills, receive meaningful feedback, and connect with people working in the industry they hope to enter. We are grateful to Maghan Miller and Amber Carter for creating this opportunity and to our community partners for investing their time and expertise in our students.
Experiences like these remind us of the power of connecting classroom learning to real-world opportunities. We are proud of our Liberty FFA seniors for stepping outside their comfort zones, putting themselves forward, and taking another step toward their futures!