The following guest post was written by Ja'Lyric, about his internship experience with us this summer.
During the fall of my fourth year at Mississippi State University, I interviewed for an internship with this premier landscaping company. Feeling an almost instant connection during my interview with Lisa Hall, I knew that this was the company for me! Choosing Yellowstone Landscape has been an impactful decision allowing me to learn more about the green industry. From daily meetings in the office to long hours in the field, the experience has been like no other.
With my deep interest in sports fields, I instantly connected with my Mentor, Bob Benyo. On my first day, despite the rain, he made sure I was formally introduced to his team. Bob’s passion for both creating and maintaining sports fields was contagious and instantly grabbed my attention. From placing me with the most experienced workers to checking on me after work, Bob made sure I was set up to learn and enjoy the journey along the way.
Being from a small town in Mississippi and living almost 1000 miles away from home has been challenging. But I look back and see how much getting out of my comfort zone has helped me grow! Being made to feel a part of this team has been easy with the constant support and the additional guidance of manager, Gene Gowe. He has gone above and beyond handling my weekly schedule, updating me on the tasks ahead and what to look forward to. He clearly understood how intimidated I might be coming to a new state and working with people I didn’t know. He has gone out of his way by checking in on me at the end of the day, taking me to lunch on multiple occasions and even inviting me to a minor league baseball game with him and his family. This was a highlight of my time in Manassas, and while enjoying leisure time at the stadium I could also see what I am working towards building and maintaining professionally.
This summer I achieved my main goal; to learn every aspect of the “sports field” industry. I now understand the importance of mowing at recommended heights, how to groom and repair synthetic turf as well as the artistry of baseball infields. Knowing the different types of machines as well as how they operate is also crucial. I am grateful to the Yellowstone team for the opportunity to stretch and increase my knowledge and enhance my skills for a successful career!