Why Internships Matter: What We Learned from the National Horticulture Internship Study
As the horticulture industry continues to evolve, one thing is clear: meaningful internships are one of the most powerful ways to build the next generation of skilled, inspired, and prepared professionals. This year, Seed Your Future with the NC State Horticulture Department – conducted a national internship study to better understand what students, employers, and universities need to make internships more effective across the green industry.
The results point to one undeniable truth: when internships are done well, everyone benefits.
This blog highlights what we learned and how this research is shaping new tools to strengthen the pathway from the classroom to the horticulture workforce.
Internships Increase Career Confidence
One of the strongest findings from the study is that internships dramatically boost a student’s confidence in choosing horticulture as a career.
Students shared that internships helped them:
- Confirm that horticulture is the right career path
- Discover new specialties within the industry
- Build hands-on skills they couldn’t get in the classroom
- Make professional connections that led to job offers
Many also expressed how meaningful the day-to-day experience was, with one student sharing:
“I was excited to go to work every day of the internship.”
For some, the experience had a lasting impact well beyond graduation. One alumni reflected on how transformative their internship was, saying:
“It changed the trajectory of my career by introducing me to public horticulture. I fell in love with the aspects of horticulture that aren't taught in the classroom – working with people and having the opportunity to embrace both the science and artistry of plants in a way that inspires people instead of just performing a task.”
Many said the experience opened their eyes to jobs they never knew existed – from greenhouse automation and robotics to turf management to controlled environment agriculture.
Internships aren’t just résumé builders; they are career-shaping experiences.
Dr. John Dole, Director, Food Systems Leadership Institute and Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, underscored this point, noting:
“Our industry needs well trained students who are ready to go on day one. Internships are one of the most important ways we can help students be successful and thus, help our industry prosper.”
Employers Benefit from Fresh Talent and New Ideas
The study also revealed that businesses – large and small – benefit significantly from hosting interns.
Employers noted that interns:
- Bring new perspectives and energy
- Help complete meaningful projects
- Create a pipeline of future employees
- Strengthen community relationships with local schools and universities
One employer shared:
“Our internship program has brought us into contact with a ton of thoughtful, dedicated, and energetic young people. The internship program is a great way to help young people further their education, as well as put our company in contact with great potential for future employees. We have hired several of our student interns and the vast majority of those hires are in supervisor/management roles.”
Most importantly, companies with well-structured internships reported higher success in hiring interns full-time – saving time and resources on recruitment.
Students Want Internships – But Access Isn’t Always Equal
While demand is high, many students struggle to find internships because:
- The opportunities aren’t well advertised
- They aren’t sure what skills are required
- Programs vary widely in quality and structure
- Some internships are unpaid or financially inaccessible
Our study found that students are more likely to pursue horticulture when internships are easy to find, clearly structured, and supported by faculty or advisors.
This insight has shaped one of our most important new initiatives: creating guides that make internships more accessible, more consistent, and more beneficial for everyone.
Three New Internship Guides Are Coming to the Seed Your Future Website This December
Based on the findings from the national study, Seed Your Future is releasing three new comprehensive guides designed to support every part of the horticulture internship ecosystem.
- A Student Internship Guide
- Helping students identify opportunities, prepare strong applications, build transferable skills, and evaluate whether a program is right for them.
- An Employer Guide for Starting or Strengthening an Internship Program
- A practical roadmap for growers, florists, landscape companies, public gardens, and green industry businesses who want to host interns successfully.
- A University Guide for Making Internships a Requirement
- Supporting academic programs interested in integrating or strengthening internship requirements to better prepare graduates for the workforce.
These guides are grounded in real feedback – from industry leaders, students, universities, and early-career professionals – making them some of the most relevant and actionable resources available.
Internships Build the Future Workforce – And the Industry Knows It
Across interviews and surveys, one message came through clearly:
Internships are essential for the long-term strength, sustainability, and visibility of horticulture careers.
Leaders emphasized that internships:
- Improve retention in horticulture degree programs
- Strengthen diversity in the industry by opening doors to underserved students
- Help companies identify future leaders early
- Support students transitioning from school to employment
- Highlight the variety of careers available in horticulture
Internships don’t just teach skills – they build belonging.
What’s Next? Strengthening Partnerships Across Education and Industry
The national study reinforced the importance of collaboration. To improve internship access and quality, students, universities, and employers must work together.
Seed Your Future is committed to bridging these gaps by:
- Creating national tools and guides
- Expanding our internship database
- Supporting colleges as they develop industry partnerships
- Helping employers connect with motivated students
- Advocating for the value of paid, structured internships
This research is just the beginning – and it will continue to shape how we support the future horticulture workforce.
Together, We Can Cultivate Stronger Pathways
The findings from the national internship study make it clear:
Internships are one of the most effective tools we have for growing and sustaining the horticulture workforce.
By supporting students, empowering employers, and strengthening university programs, we are building clearer, stronger pathways from the classroom to a fulfilling career in horticulture.