Job Fair fertile turf for students

By Holly Angelo
News Office Staff
The Republican

AMHERST - Jobs were being offered, and jobs were being accepted at a quick pace yesterday during the eighth annual Stockbridge School of Agriculture Job Fair at the University of Massachusetts.

The Campus Center Auditorium was too small to hold the more than 80 companies that were offering jobs in urban tree care, landscaping, horticulture, park management, fruit and crop production, turfgrass management, business management and other related fields. Students looking for jobs definitely had the advantage. There are more jobs than available students.

"There's so many places that need help, and there's so few of us," said Jessica L. Brown, a senior landscape contracting major from Vineyard Haven. "It's nice to meet people and make contact."

Jason D. Kaye, a senior landscape contracting major from Westford, was looking for a better paying job.

"I'm looking for more money and seeing what people are offering for salaries," Kaye said after spending more than 10 minutes talking to a representative from Greener Landscaping of Tewksbury. "This is good. There's a lot of companies. They're offering jobs."

The companies came from all over the state, and beyond. Some had signs posted letting students know they were either looking for full-time employees or interns. Each Stockbridge student must participate in a five-month internship program.

"We're looking for interns, field production and retail," said Geoff C. Uva, a 2000 Stockbridge graduate who is now the assistant general manager for Bigelow Nurseries of Northboro. "The number of companies here proves there's jobs. Everyone who goes through Stockbridge is trained, so there's a lot of opportunities out there."

Thomas J. Ingersoll, co-owner of Webster Ingersoll of Sheffield, was looking for employees with a positive attitude. His business specializes in fine gardens, stonework and tree care.

"We're looking for people who like to work and have a good attitude," Ingersoll said. "I'd like to fill a half-dozen positions for the coming season."