January 24, 2025

Lydia Hamer ’26The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the country’s largest indoor agricultural exposition under one roof, showcasing for visitors a tiny slice of the industry that employs nearly half a million Pennsylvanians and contributes $132.5 billion to the commonwealth’s economy every year.

Several Susquehanna University students served as digital interns at this year’s event — the 102^nd — using their talents to promote the show’s highlights on Instagram and Facebook.

From the showing of farm animals, fleece-to-shawl competitions and baking contests to rodeos, sheep herding and a mullet competition, Susquehanna’s interns captured it all.

“The team I worked with was amazing. We immediately clicked and made a strong creative group of interns,” said Lydia Hamer ’26, a management and marketing double major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “I got to experience so many new things by covering these different events. From going live on Facebook while on a tractor to photographing a rodeo, it was endless fun and such a great learning experience.”

Other interns included Alison Gassert ’25, a communications major from Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania; Sophia Watson ’25, a communications major from Downingtown, Pennsylvania; De’kzeon Wyche ’25, a marketing major from York, Pennsylvania; and Onya Yurkiewicz ’25, a communications major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The Farm Show internship opportunities were made possible through Zachary Newby ’16, digital director with the state Department of Agriculture. Newby leads the department’s digital communications as it relates to social media, marketing campaigns, graphic design, special events and newsletters.

“From September until the completion of the Farm Show in January, our team promotes the event to build excitement for the show,” Newby said. “During the actual show, with the help of our interns, we provide coverage of all things Farm Show.”

Yurkiewicz said she jumped at the Farm Show opportunity because of her personal history with the event.

“Every year in elementary school, my dad and I would spend the day exploring the Farm Show together,” Yurkiewicz remembered.

De'kzeon Wyche ’25Like his co-interns, Wyche said the pace was fast, but he learned to prioritize tasks and communicate with my team to ensure everything ran smoothly.

“I enjoyed my coworkers; everyone was nice, and we all had the same goal,” Wyche said. “I also appreciated the environment as it brought a sense of the country lifestyle, which I’m into.”

Yurkiewicz believes the connections she made during her Farm Show internship will be valuable in achieving her future career goals.

“I met some amazing people who share the same passion for agriculture and educating people on where their food comes from,” she said. “I plan to utilize these connections to help me launch a business of my own centered on food education and community involvement.”

Newby has been dedicated to giving back to his alma mater through his attendance at Susquehanna’s career networking conference Break Through and extending internship opportunities. Since Newby has been with the Department of Agriculture, they have successfully placed Susquehanna students as interns and recently hired a 2024 graduate.

“As an alum, I know how much of a challenge it is to not only find potential internships or jobs but also ones that provide the needed experience and growth to kickstart a successful career,” Newby said. “To help share those opportunities and be an asset has been a good feeling.”