Forty-one college students are exploring agricultural career opportunities this summer as GROWMARK interns. They are working at FS companies in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Ohio, 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 21 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.
"This internship program continues to be a key component in identifying and retaining top talent for the GROWMARK System," says Kayla Portwood, GROWMARK university relations manager. "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."
This is the 59th year for the GROWMARK internship program which began in 1959. Over the years, more than 1,100 students have been involved in the program.
Exploring Agriculture program
Nineteen students are taking part in GROWMARK's summer Exploring Agriculture Internship program. The students are spending 10 weeks working at FS companies in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
The interns are exposed firsthand to the inner workings of retail energy and agribusinesses to help them evaluate future career aspirations. The students will be operating field research and crop monitoring equipment and technology for scouting, assisting with facility and equipment maintenance and repair, and building professional relationships with FS personnel and customers while learning the different products and services they offer.
"The Exploring Agriculture Intern program was developed to help build relationships between students and faculty at colleges and technical school level and our FS member companies," said Kayla Portwood, GROWMARK university relations manager. "We are striving to provide students with hands-on experiences, allowing them to gain a strong understanding of the GROWMARK System and the agriculture industry," she adds.
