Each summer, University of Kentucky students gain valuable experience through internships. Jakayla Allen and Gabryele Carter, both agricultural economics seniors in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, interned with John Deere for the second time this summer.  

Growing up in Middletown, Delaware, Allen would drive through rural areas, noticing the farmers, the cows, the John Deere tractors.  

“I always had this invisible string tugging me toward agriculture,” Allen said. “So when I got the chance to study it, I said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’”  

UK’s strong agriculture program also brought Carter from Delaware to Kentucky. After growing up in Smyrna, a rural area, Carter said she is always shocked when someone doesn’t know John Deere.  

“I’ve grown up seeing the green tractors, so I just knew how big of an impact they have,” Carter said.  

As UK students, Allen and Carter visited John Deere headquarters and learned of the opportunity to apply for internships.  

Through her UK classes, Carter had become interested in the marketing side of agricultural economics. She decided to apply because she thought a John Deere internship would give her more exposure and experience.  

After going through John Deere’s rigorous interview process, Carter spent summer 2024 in Cary, North Carolina, as a turf production systems marketing intern. She traveled around the state and interviewed customers about a newly launched app.  

At the end of the summer, interns pitch what they would like to do the following summer, if accepted again. Carter said she wanted to work in precision agriculture — which is exactly how she spent summer 2025 in Moline, Illinois.  

Carter said it was really gratifying to come back for a second summer and encounter coworkers who were excited to have her back. She also appreciated knowing that, through her work, she is “leaving an impact on the company.”  

Allen has worked both summers in Olathe, Kansas, first on the marketing side then in sales. This summer, as an aftermarket customer support intern, she helps dealers with the e-commerce process.  

When Allen got to present to dealers and get their direct feedback last summer, it was a valuable experience that made her realize she wasn’t just doing busy work.  

“They told me what value my project was actually going to add to their lives, so that was exciting,” Allen said. “This summer, I get to continue adding that value.”  

Allen said that her internship experience has allowed her to “evolve and grow in the workplace.”  

"John Deere is very open to making sure that you feel welcome and that you're well taken care of,” Allen said. “They’re so willing to put you in touch with the right resources.”  

To learn more about experiential learning opportunities for Martin-Gatton CAFE students, visit https://students.ca.uky.edu/.  

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Writer: Bailey Vandiver, bailey.vandiver@uky.edu 

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services to individuals and institutions that provide equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.