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The internship program introduces next-gen dairy farmers to all aspects of production.

December 12, 2019

2 Min Read
Caitlyn Degner stands outside the dairy barn at Walmoore Holsteins in West Grove, Pa.
HOST AN INTERN: Caitlyn Degner interned at Walmoore Holsteins in West Grove, Pa., in 2019. Farmers interested in hosting 2020 interns must apply by Dec. 31. Photo courtesy of Center for Dairy Excellence

The 2020 On-Farm Internship program is accepting applications for dairies that are interested in hosting on-farm interns in the summer of 2020.

The program provides the next generation of dairy managers with a 10- to 12-week on-farm internship and exposure to all facets of dairy production. The Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association and the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania have partnered to support this program.

“When we started the internship program, we saw the need to have students get experience on progressive dairy farms and apply the classroom skills they were acquiring,” says Walt Moore of Walmoore Holsteins in West Grove, Pa., who hosted an on-farm intern last summer. “Today, there are so many students who have little or no farm experience that I think it is even more critical to have these students gain real, hands-on experience.”

Farms that apply to be part of the program may be located within or outside of Pennsylvania, but producers must agree to provide the intern with exposure to all aspects of a successful, progressive dairy operation.

Host farms are paired with interns who have a strong interest in dairy production. Students must either be attending a Pennsylvania university, be a Pennsylvania resident attending an out-of-state school or be a recently graduated Pennsylvania resident with an interest in dairy production. Preference is given to underclassmen undergraduates. 

“It’s important to support and encourage youth to pursue careers in agriculture to bring fresh ideas and technology competency into farm businesses. We need to demonstrate that careers in agriculture can be successful and enjoyable,” says Kim Skellie of El-Vi Farms Inc. in Newark, N.Y. “As farmers, we also benefit from hosting interns who are competent and interested in completing special projects that can be difficult for year-round, fully employed staff to complete. The internship provides them with variety and real-life farm work ethic.”

Throughout the summer, host farms mentor and work with skilled interns who are eager to learn and are available to complete a wide variety of tasks. Host farms and interns work together to establish learning goals and complete a research project that benefits the host farm’s operation.

To apply as a host farm for the 2020 On-Farm Internship program, visit centerfordairyexcellence.org. Applications are due Dec. 31.

For more information, contact Brittany Haag at [email protected] or call 717-346-0849.

Source: Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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