LU Offers Paid Summer Ag Conservation Internship

By Blake Jackson

Lincoln University of Missouri (LU) undergraduate students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in agricultural conservation through a paid internship with the From the Ground Up project this summer.

Starting at the end of May, up to 12 students from Lincoln University and Central State University (CSU) in Ohio will be matched with teams at LU, CSU, the Ohio State University, and the University of Missouri. Interns will work directly with farmers, researchers, and extension staff in Missouri and Ohio to learn about conservation practices in real-world settings.

“This is going to be a really fun internship,” said Kimberly Cash, faculty instructor at LU. “There are lots of opportunities for students to work with farmers, look into the extension side and work in a lab.”

The internship focuses on four main areas:

• Field Research - Students will assist researchers in collecting on-farm data and processing lab samples to evaluate the effects of conservation practices on soil health, crop productivity, and environmental outcomes.
• Engagement - Interns will collaborate with local, regional, and national stakeholders to promote climate-smart agriculture through research and outreach activities.
• Extension - Participants will support extension staff in creating and implementing outreach programs, including field days, workshops, and online content designed to share project findings.
• Farming - Interns will gain practical farming skills and management techniques while helping implement on-farm research alongside real farmers.

“One of the coolest things about this entire internship opportunity is working with farmers who got to choose what they want to research, so there’s a lot of options,” Cash said.

Selected students will receive a $9,000 stipend, a $1,000 scholarship for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters, and undergraduate course credits.

Applications, including a letter of recommendation, resume, and unofficial transcript, should be submitted as a single PDF to cashk@linolnu.edu or ssubburayalu@centralstate.edu by January 31, 2026. Application instructions are available on Handshake under “Undergraduate Interns for Innovative Agricultural Conservation Practices Project.”

Photo Credit: lincoln-university-missouri