Click on each picture below to view work samples from my time at A&M. Below the images you can find short summaries explaining what the assignment consisted of, the course associated with each assignment, and the significance as it pertains to the many facets of the Horticulture industry.
Honey Bee Biology Project - This project is part of the Honey Bee Biology class that I took at A&M. For this project, I worked in a group with fellow classmates to create a webpage focusing on a particular topic concerning honey bees. In our webpage, we explored the differences between natural and maintained colonies; specifically whether or not communication between the two colonies differs. For each colony we studied the differences in their foraging patterns, disease susceptibility, travel, colony size, and honey production. Overall, participating in this study provided me with an invaluable opportunity to learn even more about one of the most important pollinators of food crops.
Land Judging Survey - I conducted a land judging survey Soil Science, which is a class at A&M in the Soil and Crop Science Department. This survey required me to understand basic soil differences, know how soil properties affect crop growth, recognize the influence of land features on production and land protection, select suitable soil and water conservation practices, determine the land capability class, recommend proper land use and treatment, and evaluate for nonagricultural uses.
Peach Paper - In this paper, I researched how seed germination of Prunus persica (peaches) is affected by Gibberellic Acid application, endocarp removal, and stratification. I wrote this paper while for the Plant Propagation class at A&M. All three treatments were conducted over a 10 week period in the lab portion of the class. I analyzed the data from the results collected, and compared them to similar experiments conducted by other departments. In writing this paper, I gained significant experience in manipulating seed germination in order to better understand the overall effect it may have on the peach industry.
Lavender Foal Syndrome Term Paper - I wrote this term paper while taking a genetics class called Principals of Heredity at A&M. In this paper I discuss Lavender Foal Syndrome, which is an inherited lethal, neurological disorder that occurs in foals. Writing this paper enabled me to better understand the role of gene mutation, which can be quite important when dealing with plant genetics.
Wine Review Paper - I wrote this paper during my sophomore year at A&M for the class Concepts of Wine Production. Towards the end of the semester, we were required to pick a wine variety and write a review of it. In this paper, I explore the science behind wine production, my personal review of the wine, and background concerning the vineyard that produces this wine. In writing this paper, I was able to dip my toes into the wine industry. I gained further insight into what goes in to making a certain variety of wine, how to properly analyze the wine, and how to successfully market it.