In October 2025 we welcomed our first interns supported by the Henderson County Gleaton Farm Fund. Harley Robinson and Adam Ferrell are both Henderson County residents who are seeking careers in agriculture.
Harley Robinson is a horticulture student at Blue Ridge Community College. She has a deep interest in healing plants and sustainable growing practices and plans to continue building out her own medicinal herb gardens and apothecary and pursue a career in horticulture.
Adam Ferrell is a passionate grower and land steward making a career transition to agribusiness after 25 years in publishing and media. He recently left a senior role at a book publishing company to focus on post-Helene recovery and explore opportunities aligned with his main interest—sustainable farming.
Both interns are working in our Chinese Medicinal Herbs project learning how to harvest, clean, dry, and process several important species. Their internships will include participation in a special Chinese Medicinal Herb Quality Testing event and the 10th annual North Carolina Medicinal Herb Grower and Buyer Event.
What Our First Interns Said About Their Experiences in the Program
My internship at a horticultural research center was an incredibly formative experience that immersed me in both the practical and collaborative sides of plant science. I spent much of my time outdoors gaining direct experience cultivating, harvesting, and caring for diverse plant species. Through daily work in the field I learned how to responsibly manage growing beds and properly process harvested materials for long-term storage. Beyond technical skills the internship connected me with dedicated growers, researchers, and members of the local horticultural community who generously shared their knowledge. Being surrounded by people deeply committed to sustainable growing and education made the experience both inspiring and impactful. Best, Harley (2/16/2026).
The internship gave me hands-on field work experience with a variety of interesting plants I might never have learned about otherwise. I developed new skills and knowledge to propagate, harvest, clean, dry, and store Chinese medicinal herbs and seeds. My favorite projects were building and maintaining nursery beds for ginseng, goldenseal, and other woodland botanicals. The best part was working alongside great people who love what they do. Best, Adam (2/16/2026)
History of the Internship Program
In 2023, Shelley G. Bourdon made a gift to the NC Agricultural Foundation to create an endowment in memory of her parents, Hugh and Madge Gleaton to interest young people of Henderson County, NC to begin farming. Dr. Hugh Gleaton Jr. grew up on a three-generational farm in Warwick, Georgia. His father discouraged him from becoming a farmer, so he earned his medical degree and set up an ophthalmology practice in Hendersonville. Gardening, however, remained his lifelong passion. To help encourage a new generation of farmers and professionals working with farmers, Shelley established this endowment to support interns working on organic, specialty and/or alternative crops at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River. Preference will be given to interns who are residents of Henderson County. If you're interested in contributing to this effort to inspire young people to pursue farming as a profession, please consider making a gift to the Henderson County Gleaton Farm Fund for Summer Interns.
