Haley Fischer spent her summer caring for pigs at Iowa Select Farms and is one of 12 university students from throughout the country representing the National Pork Board on its #RealPigFarming Student Social Forces team. (Submitted photos)

Sept. 11, 2018

Internships give ag students real-world experience

By Grace Niemeyer, communication assistant

Unique opportunities with the National Pork Board and the Missouri Farm Bureau helped two Northwest Missouri State University students expand their knowledge this summer in the field of agriculture.

Haley Fischer, a senior agricultural science major from Neola, Iowa, interned for Iowa Select Farms, where she oversaw multiple barns and cared for pigs. Additionally, she was one of 12 university students from throughout the country selected to be a part of the National Pork Board’s #RealPigFarming Student Social Forces team.

“I am able to communicate with my followers on all of my social media sites and inform them more about the hog industry,” Fischer said. “I usually talk about things they might not already know, interesting facts, and I also share articles I find interesting from places like the National Pork Board and Pork Checkoff.”

Fischer is preparing herself to be career-ready with the strength of Northwest’s School of Agricultural Sciences and the home-like atmosphere of the University. Ninety-six percent of students who earn bachelor’s degrees in Northwest’s School of Agricultural Sciences secure a job or continue their education within six months of graduating. 

“Before coming to Northwest, I was not expecting to get into the swine industry at all,” Fischer said. “After interning in Oklahoma last summer for Seaboard Foods, I was all in. I would have never had that chance without attending Career Day, and interviewing with them on Mock Interview Day.”

Katie Imhoff holds a magazine feature she contributed to during her internship with Missouri Farm Bureau.

Katie Imhoff, a senior agricultural business and public relations major from California, Missouri, all benefitted from an internship this summer. Imhoff, who grew up surrounded by agriculture and politics, received an opportunity to intern with the Missouri Farm Bureau that she couldn’t pass up.

“This internship consistently required me to get out of my comfort zone, which led to many positive experiences,” Imhoff said. “One of my favorite experiences was hosting the Missouri Farm Bureau podcast. I was also able to interview agriculturalists throughout the state and write magazine stories. It was so exciting to see something that I worked hard on published in a magazine.”

Imhoff connected with politicians and agricultural leaders, created social media content for the Farm Bureau and gave agriculture advocacy presentations.

“My communication classes allow me to create materials that prepare me for a future career,” Imhoff said. “In addition to classes, Northwest has given me the opportunity to be involved in multiple student organizations that have improved my time management, teamwork and communication skills. I am so thankful for those who have invested in me and pushed me to seek out opportunities outside the classroom that will lead to career success.”

Northwest’s School of Agricultural Sciences serves about 12 percent of the University’s undergraduate population. The School offers facilities such the 448-acre R.T. Wright Farm – which is home to beef, swine, dairy and sheep enterprises as well as row and forage crops – a horticulture complex and applied research and demonstration plots that provide students with hands-on, profession-based experience.

The School of Agricultural Sciences offers agricultural majors in agricultural business, agricultural education, agricultural science, agronomy, animal science, animal science-pre vet and horticulture in addition to minors, a two-year farm operations certificate and master’s programs in agriculture, education and economics.

For more information about the School of Agricultural Sciences, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/ag/.