Steven Jeanty
AeroFarms
Newark, NJ USA
"Plant something. Grow something. Have a lot of different experiences to figure out what you want to do."
Career Roadmap
Steven's work combines: Environment & Nature, Food, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
When I first told my dad that I wanted to become a farmer, he didn't understand. He had grown up on a farm in Haiti and moved so that I'd find more opportunity. I explained my intentions to him and he grew very supportive. It now feels like a full circle moment when I explain the plant varieties I'm growing and he responds with stories about what he used to grow and feed me when I was a child.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Hudson Community College
Bachelor's Degree
Plant Science
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I have family roots in agriculture—my father grew up on my grandfather’s farm in Haiti.
2.
I struggled at first to figure out what I wanted to do for a career—I spent some time working in construction, bounced around a few different majors, and second guessed the necessity of college.
3.
Motivated by a friend’s cynical remark about the food system, I tried growing tomatoes in a community garden and failed.
4.
I decided to get an education in the field, so I attended community college for my associates degree in biology and went on to pursue my bachelor’s degree in plant science from Rutgers University.
5.
While in school, I began working in indoor vertical farming at AeroFarms—I started in the seeding department and worked into the horticulture department where I made sure the plants were growing well.
6.
I was promoted to research and development where I helped improve yields and worked on new plant varieties.
7.
I spent two years as an assistant grower before being promoted to my current position of head grower at AeroFarms.
8.
I’ve also earned my bachelor’s degree in plant science and am pursuing my master’s degree in global agriculture.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
Why would you want to become a farmer? I moved away from the farm so you wouldn't have to do that.
How I responded:
When I first told my dad that I wanted to become a farmer, he didn't understand. He had grown up on a farm in Haiti and moved so that I'd find more opportunity. I explained my intentions to him and he grew very supportive. It now feels like a full circle moment when I explain the plant varieties I'm growing and he responds with stories about what he used to grow and feed me when I was a child.