Virginia Tech’s only two-year program produces high-demand grads backed by a strong alumni network.
For Aiden Mueller, golf is more than a sport — it’s a calling. The Williamsburg native, whose father was a longtime PGA professional, always knew he wanted to work on a golf course. But it wasn’t until he enrolled in Virginia Tech’s Agricultural Technology (Ag Tech) program that he saw just how far that ambition could take him.
After a standout internship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota — the iconic course set to host the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the 2029 Ryder Cup — Mueller was offered a full-time position before graduation
“I have my dream job a lot earlier than I ever expected,” Mueller said. “The fact that I’m here at the age of 20 is a direct result of the hands-on experience and the support I had through the Ag Tech program.”
Career ready in two years
The Agricultural Technology program prepares students for careers in two options: landscape and turf management and applied agricultural management. With smaller class sizes, experienced faculty, and a curriculum focused on career-ready skills, students are prepared to contribute on the job from day one.
“Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed and continually updated to ensure graduates acquire the knowledge and skills essential to be career ready,” said Rachel Kohl, assistant director of the program. “We emphasize meaningful, hands-on opportunities that mirror the industry challenges our students will face.”
More than 80 percent of courses include a lab component. Students spend multiple days each week outdoors — installing irrigation systems, analyzing soils, calibrating sprayers, managing agronomic challenges, and working with livestock. They also build communication and leadership skills and engage with professionals through guest speakers, visits to farms and businesses, and attending conferences and student competitions.
All students complete a 10-week, 400-hour internship between their first and second year. In Mueller’s Hazeltine internship, he oversaw crews, managed bunkers, and helped prepare the course for the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship.
“Coming into the program, I’d never managed a team,” he said. “Ag Tech taught me how to become a leader.”
Alumni-powered pipeline
What sets Ag Tech apart isn’t just the practical training — it’s the powerful alumni network behind it. Since its founding, more than 1,390 students have graduated from the program, forming a robust community that continues to support new generations of students. Graduates regularly return as guest lecturers, internship hosts, and employers, creating a pipeline of opportunity for students entering the workforce.
Todd Walters, a 1991 graduate and founder of Valley Landscaping, started his business while still in the program, mowing lawns between classes. Today, his company operates in four Virginia markets and employs nearly 200 people — many of them Ag Tech alumni.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without that program,” Walters said. “I believe in hiring people who are hardworking and teachable — and the Ag Tech program consistently produces those kinds of graduates.”
That includes Walters’ son, Brandon, a 2019 graduate who worked his way up from crew member to lead the company’s marketing and employee operations.
“Four out of five members of our leadership team are Ag Tech grads,” Brandon said. “The growth we’ve had can be directly attributed to that program.”
Valley Landscaping regularly hosts site visits, teaches equipment skills, and mentors students preparing for the National Collegiate Landscape Competition. In recognition of their commitment, the Walters family received the program’s inaugural Friend of the Program Award.
That honor was shared by Robert Mills Jr., a 1994 graduate and owner of Briar View Farms in Callands. Mills continues to support the program through an annual scholarship and by hosting student interns on his farm. His son Logan is also a graduate.
“As a graduate and somebody that works in the agricultural industry, this program is a hit for employees and employers alike,” Mills said. "This program has constantly put out graduates that are employed the second they leave campus. I’ve had three careers, and I was prepared for all of them.”
Expanding opportunity
As the Ag Tech program prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2027, faculty and leadership are focused on expanding access and opportunity for future students.
“To meet the need for more graduates in agricultural-related fields, we are excited to explore new pathways to expand access to our highly regarded associate degree program,” said Susan Sumner, director of the Ag Tech program and CALS’ associate dean of academic programs. “We also want to support students who wish to continue their education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a related field at Virginia Tech.”
Whether graduates continue on to a four-year degree or step directly into the workforce, they leave with the skills, experience, and connections to chart their own course.
Just months into his job at Hazeltine, Mueller is already thinking big.
“We have two major tournaments coming up,” he said. “By the time the second one’s done in 2029, I think I’ll be ready to take that next step and run my own course. I want to host tournaments and be a name people in the industry look to.”
He adds that wherever his career takes him, he hopes to make opportunities for other Ag Tech students.
“We are a tight-knit community,” he said. “We’d give the shirt off of our back for one other.”
Want to learn more or get involved? Contact rosejeter@vt.edu.
