Recent international grad helping to transform Nova Scotia business
As a boy, Najja Gallion wielded a machete working on his family’s 10-acre farm in Dominica, Caribbean.
Twenty years later, the recent Dalhousie Agricultural Campus grad, is now an assistant grower overseeing the seeding department at Goodleaf Farms, which uses innovative technology to produce local, ultra-fresh greens, without pesticides, year-round.
His forestry background and agricultural education makes Najja a unique and valued addition to GoodLeaf Farms’ Bible Hill location.
“My job is the entire production of microgreens,” says Najja. “I am involved from the seeding all the way to harvest. And from harvest to plate, I work to ensure the highest degree of quality for our products. It was exciting to land this job in my field. I had the interview and job offer within a week of university graduation.
“I did not graduate looking for a job, I was looking for a career, and this is all becoming possible for me in Nova Scotia.”
Making the job offer was even easier for Goodleaf Farms with the support of provincial funding program Graduate to Opportunity (GTO). It provides eligible employers a salary subsidy if they hire a post-secondary grad within a year of graduation.
Small businesses, startups, social enterprises, and non-profits can receive 25% of the grad’s first year (35% if the grad is from a designated diversity group) and 12.5% of the grad’s second year salary.
Shawn Woods, Farm Manager and Senior Systems specialist, says Najja has had a significant impact since he was hired in May.
“Najja took great initiative and was able to learn the business so quickly — he took it upon himself to demonstrate his leadership capabilities in owing the whole seeding and growing process from start to finish, despite being relatively new to the workforce,” says Shawn.
“Unique to Najja is that he speaks the language of the plants. There is really nobody else here that can listen to them and translate their needs like he can. Not only is he an effective leader, he is an effective teacher and he has already started developing some understudies, which has been very exciting for us.”
Najja’s specialized skillset comes from being a second-generation forester, working with his father at a young age, as well as his education. He earned an associates degree from the Dominica State College before building on it with the Dalhousie Agricultural program.
“It was a mix of emotion and excitement to land this job,” says Najja. “I have all this education and I can back it up with quality skills, as well. I am ready to prove myself. Right now we are doing pioneer stuff with vertical farming, and I dream to be at the top of this field one day. That is what drives me. It pushes me to learn more.”
Najja says his generation is eager to enter the workforce and prove themselves, a trait Shawn is seeing first-hand.
“As a recent grad, he has high energy, a high degree of competence and such a strong commitment. Out of school, these new employees are go-getters who want to perform,” says Shawn. “It is incredibly important for employers to define the opportunity to recruit local young talent.
“If you can find a grad like Najja, it will make business a lot easier. The GTO program can help make this happen. It was a win for us.”
Interested in learning more about the available funding to hire talented grads right out of school? Check out the GTO program.
