From harvesting vegetables to sharing homemade pizza, student employees at the Oxford Organic Farm discover new skills, lasting friendships, and a different appreciation for the food they eat.

When Caitlin Savage sat down to dinner one evening, the squash on her plate had a story behind it.

Earlier that summer, she had planted it herself at the Oxford Organic Farm. Over the following weeks, she helped weed the field, care for the plants, harvest the squash, and wash the produce.

Now she was eating something she had helped grow from the beginning.

“Moments like these made me especially proud to be part of the farm because I could see the direct results of our hard work,” Savage said.

For students at Oxford College of Emory University, working at the Organic Farm offers experiences that are difficult to replicate in a classroom. Student employees and interns work alongside professional farmers, contribute to the local food system, and learn skills they can carry into other parts of their lives.

And no two days are quite the same.

A Job Where Every Day Is Different

For Emerie Ngai, a typical shift at the Oxford Organic Farm could involve harvesting crops, pulling weeds, or preparing vegetables for customers.

“Each shift offers something new and provides multiple opportunities to learn,” she said.

One of Ngai’s favorite tasks is packing weekly vegetable boxes for members of the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The program provides local residents with seasonal produce grown at the farm.

After spending hours working in the fields, Ngai enjoys seeing the harvest gathered and ready for delivery.

It’s also satisfying to know the vegetables will soon become part of someone’s meal.

The work has taught her how much attention goes into growing and distributing organic produce. Farm employees follow food safety procedures and check vegetables throughout the harvesting, washing, and packing process.

Ngai now thinks about that work when she eats at the Oxford dining hall.

“Whenever I’m at the dining hall and see a little sign indicating that an item came from the Oxford Organic Farm, I make sure to try it and appreciate all the hard work that went into bringing that food from farm to table!” she said.

Finding Community Over Pizza

Ngai’s first experience as a new farm employee wasn’t just about learning the job. It also involved pizza.

Her staff training happened to fall on a Pizza Friday, a farm tradition where students gather to make pizzas using vegetables grown on-site.

New employees customized their own pizzas, learned about farm operations and food safety, and got to know the staff members who would be guiding them through their shifts.

For Ngai, the day offered an early glimpse of the farm’s welcoming atmosphere.

Many students begin working there without previous farming experience. Full-time staff members teach them what they need to know, from caring for crops to using equipment safely.

The experience gives students a chance to build confidence while contributing to something that serves the campus and surrounding community.

“I believe that the Oxford Organic Farm provides a welcoming space where students can learn through hands-on experience and become part of the tight-knit community of workers on the farm!” Ngai said.

Taking the Experience Further With a Summer Internship

Like Ngai, Savage began her time at the farm as a student employee.

The job quickly became one of the highlights of her week. She enjoyed the changing responsibilities and the chance to learn something new during each shift.

When a summer internship opportunity became available, she decided to apply.

“I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the farm’s day-to-day operations beyond the glimpses I had experienced through my part-time job,” Savage said.

The internship gave her that opportunity.

Working alongside full-time farm staff, Savage participated in nearly every stage of growing and distributing produce. Her responsibilities included planting, weeding, pruning, harvesting, washing vegetables, and helping sell produce at farmers markets.

Following crops through the entire growing season helped her understand how much time and care go into the food people eat.

But some of the most valuable lessons weren’t about farming techniques.

Savage learned to collaborate with coworkers, adapt when plans changed, and approach unfamiliar tasks with more confidence.

She even overcame her fear of bugs.

“Beyond agricultural knowledge, the internship taught me the value of collaboration and adaptability, especially in an environment where every day brought something new,” she said.

Those skills will stay with her long after her summer at the farm.

Growing Food, Skills, and Connections

The Oxford Organic Farm serves several purposes. It supplies fresh produce to campus dining, farmers markets, and local CSA members. It also gives students a chance to participate in the work behind that food.

For Ngai, the experience has brought new skills, supportive coworkers, and a greater appreciation for the vegetables she eats.

For Savage, a student job grew into a summer internship that helped her understand sustainable agriculture and develop skills she can use in the future.

Their stories show that a campus job can offer more than a paycheck. It can introduce students to new interests, bring them into a close-knit community, and give them opportunities to learn by doing.

And sometimes, it means sitting down to dinner and knowing exactly where your food came from.