Forty-two college students are exploring agricultural career opportunities this summer as GROWMARK interns. They are working at FS member cooperatives in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Ontario, Canada; as well as the GROWMARK corporate office in Bloomington, Illinois and GROWMARK FS in the northeast.
The interns are exposed to accounting, marketing, communications, and product and service-related activities. The group kicked off the program at the GROWMARK corporate office on Monday, May 15 and will reconvene in June for an agribusiness tour and professional development opportunities. Each intern will complete a business-related project and deliver a presentation on their project in August.
“We are excited for the 58th year of the GROWMARK internship program,” said Amie Hasselbring, GROWMARK university relations manager. “The program continues to be a key component in identifying and retaining top talent for the GROWMARK System. Students engage with industry professionals on important projects and have the opportunity to clarify career goals, while we get exposed to some of the most talented university students.”
The GROWMARK internship program began in 1959 with three interns. Since then, over 1,100 students have been involved in the program.
The interns come to GROWMARK from:
Delaware Valley University
- Benjamin Wainwright, son of Daniel and Robbin Wainwright of Columbus, New Jersey, is majoring in agribusiness and working for GROWMARK FS in Bloomsbury, New Jersey.
Illinois State University
- Nick Barnes, son of Chad and Peggy Barnes of Ogden, Illinois, is majoring in agribusiness and working for Illini FS in Urbana, Illinois.
Bradley Braddock, son of Harry and Angie Braddock of Patoka, Illinois, is earning his M.S. in Agricultural Education and Leadership and working for GROWMARK, in Bloomington, Illinois.
Jeffery Coleman, son of Amy Hatfield and Todd Coleman of Shelbyville, Illinois, is majoring in agronomy management and working for South Central FS in Effingham, Illinois.
Cole Grosenheider, son of Doug and Alicia Grosenheider of Litchfield, Illinois, is majoring in agronomy management and working for M & M Service Company in Carlinville, Illinois.
Austin Hornstein, son of Carl and Beth Hornstein of Melvin, Illinois, is majoring in agribusiness and working for GROWMARK, in Bloomington, Illinois.
Tyler Litterly, son of Jeffrey and Susan Litterly of Lake Fork, Illinois, is majoring in agronomy management and working for Ag-Land FS in Pekin, Illinois.
Austin McWhorter, son of Greg and Lynne McWhorter of Effingham, Illinois, is majoring in agribusiness and working for Total Grain Marketing in Effingham, Illinois.
Michael Minton, son of Jon and Geralyn Minton of Steeleville, Illinois, is majoring in accounting and finance and working for GROWMARK, in Bloomington, Illinois.
Claire Weinzierl, daughter of Rodney and Kathy Weinzierl of Stanford, Illinois, is majoring in journalism; agricultural communications and leadership and working for GROWMARK in Bloomington, Illinois.
- Allison Heister, daughter of Dale and Brenda Heister of Maquoketa, Iowa, is majoring in agronomy and working for Three Rivers FS in Dyersville, Iowa.
- Alan Johnson, son of Rachael Johnson of Rhodes, Iowa, is majoring in agricultural studies and working for New Century FS in Melbourne, Iowa.
- Christian O’Banion, son of Jon and April O’Banion of Mason City, Iowa, is majoring in agronomy and working for AgVantage FS in Waverly, Iowa.
Morrisville State College
- Brian Hayes, son of Patricia Hayes of Orchard Park, New York, is majoring in agribusiness and working for GROWMARK FS in Caledonia, New York.
Pennsylvania State University
- Austin Hunt, son of Tom and Kathy Hunt of Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, is majoring in plant science and working for GROWMARK FS in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Purdue University
- Isaiah Butler, son of Marilyn Butler of Homewood, Illinois, is majoring in applied management and technology innovation and working for GROWMARK in Bloomington, Illinois.
Southeast Missouri State University
- Allison Haake, daughter of Neil and Linda Haake of Hoyleton, Illinois, is majoring in agribusiness and working for Gateway FS in Carlyle, Illinois.
Southern Illinois University
- Ragan Bailey, daughter of Tom and Kourtney Bailey of Albion, Illinois, is majoring in agricultural economics and working for Wabash Valley Service Company is Grayville, Illinois.
- Kevin Langrehr, son of Karl and Marilyn Langrehr of Red Bud, Illinois, is majoring in agricultural systems and working for Gateway FS in Red Bud, Illinois.
Nick Smith, son of Brian and Tina Smith of Kincaid, Illinois, is majoring in agricultural systems technology management and working for Christian County FS in Taylorville, Illinois.
Lorraine Thompson, daughter of Rich and Gina Thompson of Kankakee, Illinois, is majoring in agribusiness economics and working for Heritage FS in Onarga, Illinois.
Willie Wessel, son of A.J. and Monica Wessel of Fults, Illinois, is majoring in agricultural systems production management and working for Gateway FS in Red Bud, Illinois.
University of Guelph
- Garett Chesney, son of Kathleen Hilderley-Chesney of Innerkip, Ontario, is majoring in crop science and working for FS PARTNERS in Kitchener, Ontario.
- Maggie Pendleton, daughter of Randy and Louise Pendleton of Mulmur, Ontario, is majoring in agriculture and working for FS PARTNERS in Kitchener, Ontario.
Jocelyn Sayles, daughter of Bruce and Carolyn Sayles of Paris, Ontario, is majoring in honours agriculture and working for FS PARTNERS in Kitchener, Ontario.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Jacob Bennett, son of Tim and Joanne Bennett of Kewanne, Illinois, is majoring in crop science and working for Gold Star FS in Cambridge, Illinois.
University of Kentucky
- Michael Hornblower, son of Scott and Ann Hornblower of Fort Wright, Kentucky, is majoring in economics and finance and working for GROWMARK in Bloomington, Illinois.
University of Missouri
- Ely Anderson, son of Dana and Tony Mroz of Plattsburg, Missouri, is majoring in plant science and working for Prairieland FS in Kahoka, Missouri.
- Devin Mottet, son of David and Tami Mottet of Sycamore, Illinois is majoring in marketing and working for Conserv FS in Woodstock, Illinois.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- Logan Crooks, son of Rodney Crooks and Bonnie Klitzke of Monticello, Wisconsin, is majoring in agribusiness and working for Insight FS in Jefferson, Wisconsin.
- Michael Ely, son of David and Sue Ely of Dixon, Illinois, is majoring in soil and crop science and working for Ag View FS in Princeton, Illinois.
Dakota James, son of Brian and Susan James of Mineral Point, Wisconsin, is majoring in agribusiness and working for Insight FS in Darlington, Wisconsin.
Patrick Killelea, son of Bryan and Brenda Killelea of Ottawa, Illinois, is majoring in agribusiness, soil and crop science and working for Grainco FS in Serena, Illinois.
Caris Quakkelaar, daughter of Daniel and Shereen Quakkelaar of Waukesha, Wisconsin, is majoring in soil and crop science and working for Insight FS in Jefferson, Wisconsin.
Regan Weidner, daughter of David and Christine Weidner of Buda, Illinois, is majoring in agribusiness and working for Gold Star FS in Cambridge, Illinois.
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
- Paige Lindner, daughter of Terry and Carmella Lindner of Greenwood, Wisconsin, is majoring in animal science and working for Insight FS in Rozellville, Wisconsin.
- Kayla Smith, daughter of Gary and Gina Smith of Bancroft, Wisconsin, is majoring in agribusiness and working for Insight FS in Antigo, Wisconsin.
West Virginia University
- Anthony Brooks, son of Jackie Brooks of Milford, Delaware, is majoring in agriculture and extension education and is working for GROWMARK FS in Milford, Delaware.
Western Illinois University
- Michael Houston, son of Todd and LaDonna Houston of Golden, Illinois, is majoring in agribusiness and is working for Prairieland FS in Jacksonville, Illinois.
About GROWMARK:
GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative with annual sales of $7 billion (FY 2016 data) providing agronomy, energy, facility planning, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services in more than 40 states and Ontario, Canada. GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member cooperatives. More information is available at www.growmark.com and www.fssystem.com.
