Internship Spotlight: Blake Carter

Blake Carter began an internship with CEP in September 2021, and continues to expand his

professional experiences with the company while also pursuing a Bachelor of Science in

Forestry with an emphasis in wildlife management from Stephen F. Austin State University.

An avid wildlife enthusiast and hunter, Carter said one of his favorite assignments at CEP is the

development of food plots on CEP’s Cherokee Ridge Farm property

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Food plots serve as supplementary food sources for specific wildlife species. In this case, CEP

sought to supplement the diets of white-tailed deer.

“I really love to hunt, and white-tailed deer are a big reason that I chose this field to study, so

making these food plots was really fun for me,” Carter said. “I also really liked doing the camera

surveys, because you get to see what all the property has on it — and you can sometimes get

some interesting photos.”

In addition to wildlife management activities, Carter also assists in property upkeep and

maintenance at a number of CEP properties across the state.

“CEP allows you to see all parts of the state, and it is really interesting see how different West

Texas is from East Texas, or even the coast of Texas.” Carter said. “Not only is the landscape

different, but the wildlife is different.”

While the wildlife-related aspects of Carter’s internship are among his fondest experiences, he

also acknowledges that the diversity of natural resource professionals he has met and learned

from have greatly benefitted his education and future professional career.

“While traveling, I got to meet all different kinds of people,” Carter said. “By creating those

relationships, it has really helped me grow in the world of wildlife professionals.”

“Not only has CEP helped me grow professionally, but they have also helped me with my

education,” Carter added. “By teaching me small things like plant identification to bigger things

such as animal behavior, habitat and recreational activities, this has helped me thrive in my

classes and put me a step ahead.”