Senior food and agricultural business major Avory Robsinson is one of the first students to take advantage of the Herbert College of Agriculture’s new Peter Howard Wine and Ag Tourism Scholarship Program by pursuing an internship with Rocky Top Wine Trail.
A Morristown, Tennessee native, Robinson started her education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as a hospitality and tourism management major. She said, “I was introduced to the food and agricultural business program during a transitional period of my junior year, and was drawn to the Herbert College of Agriculture.”
Robinson worked as a bartender in Knoxville, which is how she gained interest in wine production and distribution. She met Melissa Karson, human resources director at Rocky Top Wine Trail, who shared about the company during one of her classes and excited her about a potential internship opportunity.
Agricultural and resource economics professor Karen DeLong informed Robinson about the Peter Howard Wine and Ag Tourism Scholarship Program during her Executive Seminar Series class. Having nearly secured the internship with Rocky Top Wine Trail, Robinson applied to the program for additional support.
During her internship, Robinson received hands-on training, pressing grapes, filtering, fermenting, stabilizing, and bottling wine. She observed top-to-bottom production while also gaining experience in the wine tasting rooms and occasionally helping with cider production as well.
Robinson said, “This internship gave me reassurance in pursuing a career in wine production and sales after graduation to utilize my agritourism-favored educational background.” She continued, “Learning how to make wine, bottle it, and sell it is information I will take with me in my future along with the overall experience I gained in production work.”
The scholarship program made it possible for Robinson to pursue such an opportunity. The financial support allowed her to reduce her previous 35-hour work week as a local server/bartender to focus on her work with Rocky Top Wine Trail in addition to her courses.
Robinson expressed, “The Herbert College of Agriculture courses have both prepared me with useful knowledge and introduced me to the opportunity.” Additionally, she credits the hospitality and tourism management program in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences for teaching her about front-of-house operations.
DeLong has been instrumental throughout the entire process, having introduced both the internship and the scholarship opportunity to Robinson. She also appreciates DeLong for her class teachings on leadership, which has included several guest speakers from different agriculture-related fields.
Working for Rocky Top Wine Trail, with support of the Peter Howard Wine and Ag Tourism Scholarship Program, has given Robinson the experience and knowledge needed in her future pursuit of a career in the wine industry.
