Select Sires Internship Program: Cultivating Future Leaders in the Genetics Industry
Select Sires, a federation committed to enhancing the productivity and profitability of dairy and beef producers, along with its member cooperatives, offers a variety of hands-on internships to provide practical work experience to college students. These internships introduce students to real-world experiences and allow them to contribute to the day-to-day operation of the Select Sires federation. Introducing these students to the opportunities available within the Select Sires federation will help them gain valuable experience in the genetics industry, which is a critical component of their professional development.
A Diverse Range of Internship Opportunities
Select Sires delivers international service. Various programs are available throughout the United States. College students pursuing a degree in dairy science, animal science, agricultural economics, agricultural communications, information systems, or related agricultural fields may apply for these internships. From communications and marketing to laboratory processing, and even working alongside our bulls, there's a diverse selection of internship programs to choose from!
The available internships include:
- Data Analytics Internship: Engage with business stakeholders to understand requirements, project scope, and desired outcomes, and develop reports, visualizations, or models that translate data into meaningful business insights.
- Livestock Production Internship: Perform general livestock care, including feeding, cleaning, moving livestock, health testing, veterinary treatments, and assisting with hoof trimming.
- Veterinary Medicine Internship: Assist with sample collection, physical exams, reproductive exams, treatment of bulls, and export paperwork.
- Dairy Sire Development and Marketing Internship: Assist the sire department with gathering information and maintaining data to prepare sires for their marketing careers. Assist the marketing department by preparing cattle for photography, including selecting, clipping, and fitting cattle.
- Low Carbon Technologies Internship: Assist in the outreach and introduction of LCT’s certification program to BxD producers, emphasizing the benefits of reduced GHG emissions and carbon. Conduct research and analysis to inform strategic decisions regarding supply chain initiatives.
- Corporate Communications Internship: Produce the yearly breeding calendars, write press releases and customer testimonials. Assist with desktop publishing projects including advertisements, brochures, and flyers.
- Semen Processing Internship: Perform semen quality control evaluations, semen extender preparation, general laboratory maintenance, and assist with research projects including sample preparation and analysis.
- Talent Development Internship: Create and elevate content on the Select Sires internal training platform, assist with facility tours, and participate in individual and team development training.
- Global Dairy Solutions Internship: Gain exposure to developing and delivering training to field teams.
- Sales & Service Internship: This program focuses on exposure to the client-facing positions within the cooperative. Students may participate in daily sales routes, cold calling, product marketing, semen inventory, genetic auditing, and client presentations.
- Artificial Insemination Internship: This program focuses on developing the skills to successfully breed and manage a technician service route. Students will participate in A.I. training, semen handling, reproductive troubleshooting, and management of the daily technician route.
A Glimpse into the Experiences of Recent Interns
The Select Sires internship program has garnered praise from past participants, who highlight the unique opportunities for learning and professional development.
Lindsey Ferreira, a 2024 SSMC Summer Intern from California, enjoyed being exposed to the behind-the-scenes of the business, networking with SSMC employees, and learning more about the important services that SSMC offers to its member-owners. She recommends this internship to anyone and everyone who sees the value of genetics because this factor plays such an important role in the future of the dairy and beef industries.
Read also: APEX Sophomore Select Program: What you need to know
Grayson Goerdel, a 2024 SSMC Summer Intern from Georgia, shared that his summer internship has been an incredible experience and one that he will never forget! He enjoyed getting to meet and work with such amazing people every day made the summer great!
McKenzie Metz, a 2024 SSMC Summer Intern from Kansas, stated, "My internship with SSMC was nothing less than amazing! I am extremely grateful for all the amazing people who I was able to work with and meet along the way. Everyone made great effort to help me not only take the next steps towards my career, but also to grow as an individual. The amount of knowledge that the industry professionals of SSMC shared with me was astounding! Even though my time with SSMC was short, it was the opportunity of a lifetime and I am so happy that I took a chance to step outside my comfort zone to learn so much!"
One former intern, Sophie Stelling from University of Wisconsin - River Falls, noted, "SSMC really tailored my internship to things I wanted to learn more about. I worked on a beef breeding project, artificially inseminated cows, sold products, and did genetic matings. You can see how much SSMC cares about their interns and their success while in the program. They really set you up to succeed. I would highly recommend students apply for this internship, primarily for the unique opportunities provided."
Meet Some of the Recent Interns
Several talented students have recently joined Select Sires for their internship program:
- Rayleigh Carter, from Marianna, Florida, joins Select Sires as a talent development intern. Carter is a junior studying agribusiness and ethical leadership at Oklahoma State University. She is deeply engaged in the Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlemen’s Association, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, student government, China Agricultural University Student Mentor, and Cowboy Energy Club. Carter looks forward to hosting international tours that will give her cross-cultural experience, as well as creating educational content that will have a lasting impact beyond her time at Select Sires.
- Lindsey Ferreira joins Select Sires from Tracy, California, as the dairy sire development and marketing intern. Ferreira is a dairy science and international agriculture major at Iowa State University. There, she is a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences ambassador and a member of the Iowa State Dairy Science Club. Ferreira is looking forward to making new connections and gaining knowledge about the A.I.
- Malela Fulton from Ferndale, California, joins Select Sires as a livestock production intern. Fulton is a senior studying animal science with a production concentration at Texas Tech University. Fulton is involved in the school’s Collegiate Cattlemen’s Association and works as a student research assistant within the Animal and Meat Science Department. Fulton has been assisting with beef on dairy carcass research to collect data that will be used in the industry. She is looking forward to learning about the genetics industry while growing in her professional endeavors.
- Garrett Hastings from Burton, Ohio, joins Select Sires as the veterinary medicine intern. Hastings is entering his second year at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to veterinary school, he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a specialization in veterinary technologies from The Ohio State University. He remains active on campus through the Food Animal, Business Management, and Theriogenology Clubs.
- Kasen Knapp from Delaware, Ohio, is joining Select Sires as a livestock production intern working at the Kellgren Center. Coming from a beef production background, Knapp attends The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institution (ATI) majoring in livestock production and management. He is a part of the OSU ATI livestock judging team and travels to competitions around the country. Knapp is looking forward to gaining more experience working with dairy sires while ensuring their daily care and management.
- Alex Landis welcomes Alex Landis as a livestock production intern. Originally from Delaware, Ohio, Landis attends the University of Findlay majoring in animal science on the pre-veterinary track with minors in chemistry and biology. Outside of academics, Landis is a part of the Findlay women’s soccer team, Christian Veterinary Fellowship, and serves as president of Children’s Mentoring Connections. She stays involved in the livestock industry through the Findlay cattle and sheep show teams. During her time at Select Sires, Landis is excited to explore research related to collection frequencies and livestock production.
- Leah Meyer from Anna, Ohio, joins Select Sires to further her skills in communication as the corporate communications intern. Going into her junior year at The Ohio State University, Meyer is pursuing an agricultural communications degree with a minor in agribusiness. She is heavily involved in the Agribusiness Club, Agricultural Systems Management Club, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, and College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Student Council. She is an advocate for the college, serving as a CFAES ambassador and CFAES peer mentor. Meyer is excited to further her strategic communications skills by gaining experience in written and verbal communication, branding, and photography.
- Megan Ratka from Cold Spring, Minnesota, will be working as the semen processing and calf campus intern. Ratka recently graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities majoring in animal science with a specialization in dairy production and will be attending graduate school at Iowa State University in the fall. At the University of Minnesota, she was involved in Lambda Delta Phi Sorority, Gopher Dairy Club, and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Mentor Program. Ratka continued to stay involved in the dairy industry through her involvement in the collegiate dairy judging team and the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge. She looks forward to learning about semen evaluation and management practices associated with sire genetics.
SSMC Summer Interns
- EMMA BROSHAR (Iowa State University, Home State: Nebraska)
- JORDYN BLOCK (Kansas State University, Home State: Illinois)
- KIRSTEN JENSEN (Iowa State University, Home State: Nebraska)
- KELCY NAGEL (South Dakota State University, Home State: Minnesota)
- KATHERINE HILLS (University of Minnesota - Crookston, Home State: Minnesota)
- LOGAN POMI (University of Idaho, Home State: California)
The Selection Process and Intern Responsibilities
Intern applications are evaluated on a cover letter, resume, application, and future plans. All applicants will be given consideration but are not guaranteed an interview. Students chosen for an interview will be asked to participate in a virtual interview with a committee.
Read also: Comprehensive Scholarship Guide
Intern responsibilities are dependent upon which internship program each student is selected for. Interns generally participate in all aspects of sales & service, reproductive solutions, genetic consultation, cow/calf monitoring, and A.I. Each intern must provide his/her own transportation. Travel will be required, including some overnight travel.
Select Sires: A Cooperative Committed to Excellence
Select Sires is a successful and supportive company offering many opportunities! Interning with them opened my eyes to various career paths while helping me narrow down my focus of interest. I enjoyed going out to different farms, exploring their goals, and providing services to help producers achieve them. cooperative and is comprised of six farmer-owned and -controlled local organizations in the United States. As the industry leader, it provides highly fertile semen, as well as excellence in service and programs to supply dairy and beef producers with the world's best genetics. These practical work experiences give interns the chance to contribute to our day-to-day operations, expand their skillset, and network with industry professionals.
Read also: Dallas Cowboys Add Defensive Power
tags: #select #sires #internship #program
