If you're an agriculture student preparing for your career, you've probably asked yourself:

Do I need to complete an internship? Is one enough?
Should I get certifications?
Do class projects actually matter to employers?

While all three can help, they don’t carry equal weight in every situation. Understanding what each one shows ag employers can help you prioritize your time and build a stronger resume before graduation.

Here’s how internships, certifications, and projects compare, and what matters most when you're trying to land your first job in agriculture.

Why Employers Care About Experience (Even for Entry-Level Roles)

Even for entry-level roles, agriculture employers are often looking for candidates who can step in to a position and contribute quickly. That doesn’t mean you need years of experience, but they do want proof you’ve applied your knowledge in real-world situations.

Employers want to see you can:

Work in a professional environment
Solve problems and think critically
Communicate with a team
Take initiative and handle responsibility
Understand how agricultural operations run

Internships, certifications, and projects all help demonstrate these qualities, just in different ways. Let’s break down the three.

Internships

For most agriculture students, internships carry the most weight when applying for jobs after graduation. They provide direct exposure to the industry and show employers you’ve already worked in a real-world ag environment.

Internships demonstrate that you:

Understand day-to-day operations
Have worked alongside experienced professionals
Can handle responsibilities in a business setting
Have been trusted by an employer before

Internships are extremely valuable for all types of positions in agriculture, whether you are interested in a field-based role or an agribusiness career.

Internships often lead to strong references, and sometimes even full-time job offers upon completion. Check out our guide on how to get the most out of your internship experience.

If you can only prioritize one thing during college, internships will usually provide the biggest impact. Aim for 2-3 internships during your college career to gain the most hands-on experience and stand out from other new grads.

Certifications

Certifications can strengthen your resume, especially when they align with your career goals. They demonstrate initiative and a clear level of specialized technical knowledge.

Some common certifications that can benefit ag students include:

CDL (Commercial Driver’s License)
Applicator license
PCA or CCA track preparation
Precision ag software certifications
Safety training certifications
Livestock handling certifications

Certifications illustrate to employers that you took initiative to learn outside the classroom, have technical knowledge in a specific area, and are prepared for regulated or safety-sensitive work.

Certifications tend to matter most in:

Agronomy and crop consulting
Ag retail roles
Equipment operation and applicator roles
Livestock production
Food safety and compliance

While certifications are valuable, they usually work best when paired with hands-on experience like internships.

Projects

Projects are often overlooked, but they can still be meaningful, especially if you don’t have internship experience yet. Many agriculture programs include hands-on projects that demonstrate technical ability and problem-solving.

Projects might include:

Capstone projects
Research trials
FFA or 4-H projects
Precision ag mapping or data analysis
Farm business planning
Equipment or technology demonstrations

Projects completed during your high school and college courses can help show employers that you can apply classroom knowledge and complete work from start to finish.

Projects are particularly helpful for:

Underclassmen building experience
Students without internships
Technical or research-focused roles
Precision agriculture or data-focused careers

Even one well-explained project can strengthen your resume significantly.

So, What Matters Most?

For most agriculture students entering the workforce, the general ranking looks like this:

1. Internships

2. Certifications

3. Projects

However, the strongest candidates have a combination of all three. The more internships, certifications, and projects you can complete before graduation, the better.

What If You Don’t Have an Internship?

Not having an internship under your belt doesn’t mean you’re not competitive. There are still ways to build valuable experience.

You can:

Work part-time in agriculture
Help on farms during planting or harvest
Volunteer with ag organizations
Pursue relevant certifications
Join student ag clubs or teams

The key is demonstrating to ag employers that you’ve had real exposure to agriculture in some form.

How Students Should Prioritize by Year

Freshman / Sophomore Year

Focus on class projects
Join ag organizations
Work part-time or volunteer in agriculture
Explore certification options
Begin building your resume

Junior Year

Complete your first internship
Obtain one relevant certification
Build hands-on experience

Senior Year

Complete another 1-2 internships
Complete certifications that strengthen your role focus
Begin applying for full-time positions

Final Takeaway

Internships typically matter most when helping land your first job in agriculture. They provide the strongest signal that you’re ready for a full-time role. However, certifications and projects can position you as a strong candidate, especially when combined with hands-on experience.

The strongest ag students don’t rely on just one thing. They build a mix of real-world exposure, technical knowledge, and applied learning that shows employers they’re ready to contribute and eager to learn.

If you’re still building experience, start with what’s available to you. Projects, certifications, and part-time work can all help you move closer to that first full-time opportunity in agriculture.

Ready to land your first internship? Start your search at AgHires.com.

AgHires is committed to supporting and equipping the next generation of agriculture professionals. Check out more of our resources for agriculture students.