News
Blooming in the Last Frontier: Elia Vaclav’s Peony Internship Adventure
June 18, 2026
Elia Vaclav, a student at Texas State University, was approved for a 3-month AFE internship with Alaska Perfect Peony. When Elia Vaclav began her internship on May 17th, she embarked on a journey unlike any other intern in our Internship Programs. Traveling to Alaska to work on a peony farm represents the farthest placement an AFE intern has undertaken, making her experience truly unique. Thousands of miles from home, Elia has embraced the opportunity to learn, grow, and immerse herself in a new environment while gaining hands-on experience in commercial flower production. Her willingness to step outside her comfort zone and travel to the Last Frontier demonstrates the adventurous spirit and dedication that AFE internships are designed to inspire.
Her internship will continue through August, giving her the opportunity to fully experience the summer growing season on an Alaskan peony farm. Alaska Perfect Peony is a family-owned farm overlooking Kachemak Bay, glaciers, and the Kenai Mountains, making it not only a working flower farm but also an incredible place to experience Alaska’s natural beauty.
Elia first learned about AFE through her professor, Dr. Tina Cade, who encouraged her to apply for the internship opportunity. With a passion for horticulture and hands-on learning, Elia was excited to take part in an experience that would allow her to expand her knowledge of specialty flower farming while exploring a completely different growing environment.
Through her internship, Elia has quickly jumped into learning about the daily work that goes into maintaining peony fields, preparing flowers for harvest, and caring for the land throughout Alaska’s changing seasons. Alaska’s long summer days and cooler temperatures help produce high-quality peonies known for their large blooms and long vase life, giving Elia the opportunity to learn firsthand about specialty flower production in a unique climate.
“Traveling to Alaska for this internship has been an incredible opportunity. I’ve already learned so much about peony farming, met amazing people, and experienced a part of the country I had never seen before,” shares Elia.
She has already been involved in many hands-on projects around the farm, including repairing staples and fence posts that were pushed up by frost during the winter months. These experiences have helped her better understand both the hard work and rewards that come with farming in Alaska.
The team at Alaska Perfect Peony has been working hard to help Elia feel welcomed and comfortable during her time on the farm. They have provided her with a bike to explore the area, helped extend WiFi access to make communication easier, and introduced her to the local community by taking her around town and showing her places throughout Homer. Elia has also been working alongside one of the farm’s local team members, helping prepare and spring clean the botanical gardens while the peony fields continue catching up after a delayed season.
Beyond learning about peony production, Elia’s internship has introduced her to the close-knit community that comes with life on a flower farm. From spending time with fellow WWOOFers (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) to helping with everyday farm activities, she is gaining valuable agricultural knowledge and meaningful life experiences along the way.
Through her time at Alaska Perfect Peony, Elia is building practical skills in sustainable flower farming while experiencing firsthand the beauty, dedication, and community that make Alaska-grown peonies so special. As we continue to follow Elia on this journey over the next few months, we cannot wait to see and hear more about all of the experiences, lessons, and memories she will gain along the way. We look forward to sharing more of her journey throughout the summer.
Elia would also like to thank her Nana and her mom for their inspiration and constant support in the horticultural world. Their encouragement helped shape her passion for flowers, agriculture, and hands-on learning opportunities like this internship.
We, at AFE, would also like to extend a special thank you to Rita Jo Shoultz – Owner of Alaska Perfect Peony, for welcoming Elia and providing her with this incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and experience life on an Alaskan peony farm.
We cannot wait to continue following Elia’s journey and see all that she accomplishes over the next few months.
By: Candice Musgrove, AFE Program Manager
