Don Holly is a fifth generation farmer from a town of about 300 people. After earning his degree in agriculture, Don planned on returning home and using his education to help care for his family’s farm. Yet, an unexpected introduction to the Peace Corps altered his life and career. Deciding to then join the Peace Corps and leave not only his community, but the borders of his country, was a first for his family and his immediate community. Yet, in serving his country abroad, Don was still able draw upon his family’s generations of experience in farming to help uplift his new host community.
“The experiences I had and the people and places I got to see were transformative beyond what words could describe.”
As a Peace Corps Volunteer, Don’s service years were spent as a Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator in Jamaica. From 2018 to 2020, Don was tasked with helping a farmers cooperative become sustainable in their agricultural practices and their business practices.
As with many Peace Corps Volunteers, overcoming the challenge of language and cultural barriers was a significant part of his service year experience, especially as it related to introducing new technologies and techniques in the field. Primary among these efforts was helping modernize farmers’ efforts by improving their digital literacy and ability to use computers.
Don credits a key lesson learned while serving in support of the Bright River Farmers Cooperative in the southwest part of the island with helping him collaborate with communities of all types today. At the cooperative, Don was eager to help teach local growers how to use email as a means of conducting business. Until that point, access to computers and the internet was fairly limited and rarely crossed over to applications in the field.
In particular, Don recognized that contracts between farms and international brewers for the locally grown cassava would be strengthened if farmers were able to communicate through digital channels. He organized classes for farmers and worked one-on-one with them to embrace the new technology. When, despite his best efforts, only a select group ultimately chose to employ their new skill set to their benefit, Don realized that listening to and respecting community members’ wishes - even if it went against his recommendations and insights - was the most important outcome. It’s a lesson that continues to guide his leadership mindset today.
“My service was such a positive life changing experience that I decided to earn my masters degree in International Development to continue pursuing a career in this field.”
Today, Don works as an Agricultural Biofuels Program Analyst for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This work often means explaining the EPA’s mission and programs to the public in simple and accessible terms - a skill Don honed during his Peace Corps service.
“Through my current position I am able to both continue working in the agriculture and environment fields. Thankfully service is still a part of what I do.”
About the Service Year Alums Awards
The Service Year Alums Awards recognize outstanding alums across the national service community for their contributions during their service years and beyond. This diverse network is composed of AmeriCorps Alums, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and alums from various service year programs across the country.
In 2025, the Service Year Alums Awards are all about celebrating this life-changing experience, recognizing alums who embraced the lessons, skills, and connections gained during their service year to pursue meaningful careers and positively impact their communities.
