Agricultural Business
Nathan Martin has grown up on the farm. He is excited to use his education at Alfred State to benefit his families’ vegetable farm.
Nathan, a fifth-generation farmer from Brockport, was not convinced that he needed a college education but with his father’s encouragement and the prestige of the agriculture program at Alfred State he enrolled in the Agricultural Business associate degree program.
“I really like the small, tight-knit program where you know everyone in the program. The program is hands-on and the professors have become family. In a small classroom you really connect with them.”
Nathan earned his associate degree and is now pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Entrepreneurship.
“I was just going to attend Alfred State for two years and transfer to Cornell, but I decided to stay here because I had established relationships and wanted to test out the new four-year program.”
Nathan has enjoyed the science and soils classes he has taken thus far. He has also been able to try to work on solutions to make his family farm more efficient.
“Our farm is the largest squash farm in the country. We grow, wash, skin, cut, and package all the squash we grow. I have worked with Professor Hutchison to find solutions on how my family farm can compost squash skin. It would save us a lot of money.”
Nathan encourages others to learn something new and to come with an open mind, ready to learn.
Nathan has been able to plant the seeds to a great career at Alfred State.
“I really like the small, tight-knit program where you know everyone in the program. The program is hands-on and the professors have become family. In a small classroom you really connect with them.”
