Gaining real-world experience, Auburn University’s agricultural communications students can practice their communication skills on clients within AgHill Communications, a student-operated communications firm.
AgHill Communications, or AHC, began in 2016 and offers services including social media management, photography and videography, coordinating special events, website management and design, writing news and press releases and graphic and print design.
“The hope is that students in this program can get a better understanding of some really complex issues that we face in agriculture today," said Paul Patterson, dean of the College of Agriculture. "[So] they are well prepared to discuss those issues and also communicate those issues to the broader public."
AHC is located adjacent to the College of Agriculture Office of Communications and Marketing on the basement floor of Comer Hall, which houses the college's administration, sitting on what is commonly known as "Ag Hill.”
The idea for AHC came from Emily Thompson, now an Auburn University alumna who majored in agricultural communications. She was a senior when the firm began.
“I didn’t want AgHill Communications to be just another class or internship," Thompson said. "But instead provide an environment for students where their creativity isn’t limited and the work they produce has a higher purpose than a test grade.”
Thompson said students majoring in agricultural communications should leave the undergraduate program with a portfolio large enough to impress potential employers.
“I want them to have experience, unlike an internship, under their belts," Thompson said. "So that when they graduate, they can go confidently into the workforce and handle whatever is thrown at them.
Thompson said students can learn from each other and find a passion that they can take into the workplace long after graduation.
Students involved in AHC have gained experience by working
“Working with the Alabama National Fair showed me just how detailed event planning has to be,” said AHC Senior Director
Graham, senior in agricultural communications, said being in AHC has benefited her and other members of the organization in numerous ways.
“I’ve seen a lot of people in our group branch out of their comfort zones and work in areas where they would not have worked otherwise,” Graham said.
Graham said through the firm she has made several connections throughout the state of Alabama.
Because of the knowledge she and other members have gained, Graham believes AHC allows students to “get hands-on experience that a lot of college students lack when they get out of college.”
The organization has grown rapidly since its creation largely due to the participation and dedication of the students involved, said Paul Hollis, advisor
“AgHill Communications was created by students, and the success it has enjoyed is due solely to their enthusiasm and the quality of their work product,” Hollis said. “It provides a true work home for the students in our major and allows them to expand their skills beyond the classroom.”
Hollis said the firm would not have been possible without the commitment and encouragement of Patterson and the College of Agriculture’s administrative staff.
“Without their help, our students would not have the workspace or the equipment that allows them to offer their services in a professional setting,” Hollis said.
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