Sowing Success: Students Explore Agriculture and Leadership at Summer Camp
July 11, 2025
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
MOUNT OLIVE, NC— With the summer sun high overhead and fields of corn, soybeans, cotton, and peanuts swaying in the breeze, high school students from across North Carolina gathered for a unique hands-on experience. During the week of July 7–11, they dug into the world of agriculture at the 2025 Supervised Agricultural Education (SAE) Experience Institute, a week-long overnight camp hosted by the University of Mount Olive (UMO) and sponsored by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.
The camp offered a dynamic mix of leadership training, hands-on experiences, and real-world exposure to North Carolina agriculture. From the hum of tractors to the occasional bark of a farm dog, students were immersed in the rhythm of rural life, many experiencing it for the first time.
“This week is about more than just agriculture,” said Edward Olive, Director of the Lois G. Agribusiness Center at UMO. “It’s about showing young people the breadth of opportunity in this industry and helping them find their place in it.”
After orientation and a campus tour, students hit the road, visiting working farms across eastern North Carolina. They toured expansive fields, saw how seed cleaning is done, gleaned fields, learned about swine production, and much more. At a creamery in Ayden, they climbed aboard a covered wagon for a guided tour of a Jersey cow dairy operation, then capped off the visit with a scoop of farm-fresh ice cream—experiencing the true farm-to-table journey in delicious fashion.
Other stops included a horse farm, where students learned about equine education, and a veteran-owned ranch focused on high-quality, locally raised meat. At each site, students observed operations up close and engaged with the farmers behind the work.
“This camp has shown me how many different paths there are in agriculture,” said Ayden Lawhon, a senior at Princeton High School. “And I’ve made so many new connections along the way.”
Evenings brought time for fun and reflection with tie-dye t-shirts, group games, s’mores, and small-group discussions that helped students process the day’s learning and bond with their peers.
Workshops throughout the week guided students through topics like marketing, business planning, and how to document their SAE hours using The AET (Agricultural Experience Tracker). Advisors joined sessions tailored to their role as educators and mentors, gaining tools to support student projects back home.
“I came from a rural area, but I had never seen the diversity of agriculture like this,” said advisor Leah Canada of Princeton Middle School. “The kids light up when they see it all—and I do too.”
The camp wrapped up Friday with a final tour at a UMO alumni-run research farm, followed by a certificate ceremony and closing celebration at the University’s Kornegay Student Farm. As a former agricultural education teacher and FFA Advisor, UMO President Dr. H. Edward Croom provided great insight and words of wisdom for the participants.
“What makes SAE Camp so special is that it doesn’t just teach students about agriculture—it shows them where they belong in it,” said Croom. “Whether they go on to be farmers, agribusiness professionals, educators, or advocates, this experience plants a seed of purpose that will grow for years to come. We are very thankful for the partnership with the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to make this unique opportunity possible at no cost to teachers and students.”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
