A team of Agricultural business students are hoping their new podcast will cultivate meaningful conversations about the future of food and sustainability.Ěý
The Harvesting Impact podcast, a student-led initiative developed under the guidance of Dr. Tasha Richard as part of the Issues in Sustainable Agribusiness course last fall, allowed the eightĚýfourth-year students to dig into issues impacting their field and gain hands-on experience in podcast production.
"The project was designed to empower students to explore the impact they want to make in the agribusiness sector while developing practical communication skills,” explains Dr. Richard, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Agriculture's Department of Business and Social Sciences. “It was important to provide them with an opportunity to engage with real-world issues, challenge assumptions and share diverse perspectives in a format that could reach beyond the classroom.”
Ag affects everyone
The podcast was produced with the invaluable guidance of Podstarter, a Halifax-based podcast agency, where the students recorded their episodes.
The first episode features ±«Óătv's own Jolene MacEachern, director of strategy and strategic project at the Faculty of Agriculture, discussing pressing issues in farming today, including the top misconceptions about agriculture. In the second episode, Class of 2024 graduate Grace Ashworth shares insights into why some young farmers are choosing not to return to the farm.
Jolene MacEachern, right, participating in an episode of Harvesting Impact.
“Growing up on a beef cattle and potato farm in PEI, I saw firsthand how deeply agriculture impacts our lives and communities.,” explains Jessica Larsen, one of the students involved. “It’s so important to connect people, especially those outside the industry, to the future of food and sustainability. Agriculture affects everyone and this project gave me the chance to bridge that gap and spark meaningful conversations.”
Listen here:
Episode 1:Ěý
Episode 2:Ěý
An engaging experience
The entire class of students — Larsen, Savannah Gould, Cassie Kifle, Avery MacLeod, Anthony McLean, Abigail Moir, Zachary Sherman and Peter Woodwar — participated in the project, with four acting in the hosting role.
“It's wonderful to see the determination and creativity of our students and the faculty who foster their success,” says Dr. Heather Bruce, dean and campus principal.Ěý “I encourage everyone to listen and be inspired by our student voices.”
Dr. Richard and the students are pondering the future of the podcast, with all "unanimously agreed we would love to see it continue." She'll look at how to potentially support it through a student-led initiative or her class each year.
“Watching them bring their ideas to life through this project has been incredibly rewarding,” she says.Ěý
Students of the Issues in Sustainable Agribusiness class with Dr. Tasha Richard, far left, at the Halifax podcast studio.