Opportunities for students to gain new perspectives are significant in establishing a strong foundation before entering employment. As a student who grew up on a beef and crop farm in Northeast Iowa, I unexpectedly applied to be a Midwest Dairy Challenge Social Media Intern. This experience intrigued me as I would get more exposure to the dairy industry while also using my communication talent to showcase students’ hard work.

This three-day opportunity was packed full of hands-on projects and tasks, and on February 12, we kicked off the challenge. When I first arrived, I collaborated with the two other interns, Elle Ruffner and Lauren Steffl, along with one of the intern coordinators, Elizabeth Schiefelbein. We received an overview of our responsibilities and tasks that needed to be completed. Being able to manage time and complete projects on a deadline was important in this internship.

The first day was full of meeting new people and networking with industry professionals. The participants met their teams and mentors, and received data to start analyzing for the farm tour. I applaud all participants for critically thinking and working as a team to research and find solutions.

The next day was a cold but successful day. Students, mentors, volunteers, and the social media team headed to MoDak Dairy in Goodwin, South Dakota for a farm tour. Students were able to evaluate the parlor, milking barn, and calf and heifer facilities. Touring MoDak Dairy was a great experience, especially when visiting with the owners and workers. Throughout the tour, us social media interns took pictures of groups and filmed short video clips to create a recap video of the tour.

While on the farm tour, students collaborated with their mentors to analyze different parts of the farm and identify the areas of improvement found in the data. Students used skills like problem-solving and attention to detail to efficiently use their time. After the farm tour, students spent the afternoon preparing their presentations for the following day.

Following dinner, students, volunteers, and mentors networked while enjoying a game night. The social media team took this opportunity to conduct interviews with alumni and volunteers for future social media posts.

The final day was a busy and successful day for participants and social media interns. Students spent most of the day presenting their presentations and anxiously waiting for results. The social media team also had an eventful day, as we split up individually to tackle important tasks before the challenge ended. We worked on graphics for future social media posts, scheduled posts, wrote the event press release, took pictures of each group, and organized and posted results.

My overall experience as a Midwest Dairy Challenge intern was amazing, and I highly recommend it to any student who has a passion for agriculture. Seeking opportunities to get hands-on experience will significantly help students get a head start in their careers, especially while gaining new perspectives and creating a diverse skillset. In this role, I put the many skills I learned in the classroom to use.

Out-of-school experiences truly are essential in building a stronger foundation to succeed. Searching for experiences and being engaged within the agriculture industry has assisted me in finding my passions and exploring different pathways. Being involved in the Dairy Challenge was an unexpected experience I did not see myself partaking in but am grateful to have stepped outside of my comfort zone. The dairy industry is truly welcoming, and I look forward to connecting with the individuals I met through this experience in the future.