K. Broussalian, courtesy of the Camera
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I don't pay attention to much when it comes to football, but I can't imagine the transition from NFL stardom to interning on a farm is a common one. But it's a choice that has led Iowa native and former NFL player Justin Sandy to a new passion: Organic farming.
The Daily Camera reports that after Sandy sustained foot and knee injuries (after two seasons each with the Titans and the Browns), he started talking to kids about the importance of a healthy diet as part of a partnership with the USDA. That led him farther and deeper into the issue of healthy food and organic farming, and by chance, he ended up with an internship at Ollin Farms outside of Boulder, Colorado.
The owner of the farm, Mark Guttridge, likes the idea of operating an educational farm and offers internships regularly. He didn't specify what lessons and activities Sandy focused on at the farm, but Guttridge often teaches his interns about all aspects of farming, from soil nutrition to drip irrigation to to the financial elements involved in running a successful business.
Sandy is not sure what will come of his new skills, but he believes it's time for a wholesale shift in cultural attitudes, one that looks at farming as a respected profession. He told the Camera, "I'd farm for free, just because I love it. Somebody's got to be out there doing it and it's so appealing as a lifestyle choice."
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