Internship Central

Last week, CAFNR Career Services had an awesome opportunity for all CAFNR students—the career fair! I attended the career fair once again this year in pursuit of an internship. With more than 75 businesses present, the four-hour long career fair barely gave me time to speak with all the companies that interested me!

This past summer, I was taught the value of internships through hands-on experience at the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA). As a freshman, many people are not looking for an internship right out of their first year; most students go back home the summer after their freshman year in college. I, however, was the exception.

As I am completing my undergraduate work in three years, I was anxious to get some real world experience. An internship was the perfect opportunity! After interviewing a couple times and receiving those dreaded rejection letters, I finally interviewed with MDA for a marketing internship. As soon as I walked in the doors of the office in Jefferson City, Mo., the warm feeling was convincing enough that I had found an awesome work environment.

The longer the summer wore on, the more I realized how much I loved working for MDA. Growing up on a conventional dairy farm, I was learning so much as I was immersed in marketing for farmers’ markets, organic producers, and agritourism operations. My work was a lot of fun as well—I got to travel and visit farmers’ markets across the state as well as the operations of several producers. Finally to top it all off, my boss as well as my other coworkers were great people with whom to work. When you can go to work every day excited about what you are doing that day, then the job is a great fit.

This summer I only hope I can find an internship as rewarding as the one last summer. The internship experience is so valuable in the career search. Real world experience is the only way to find out if you will like a job or not. Thanks to the help from career services in CAFNR, we all have a great opportunity to find an internship that may pave the way to our first job.

Above right: Charlotte Jackson, Bret Fahrmeier, Veronica Nigh, and Lane McConnell at the first ever farmers' market in the Agriculture Building at the Missouri State Fair.

-Charlotte Jackson
Sophomore, Ag Education

Interested in an opportunity like this? It's never too late to stop by CAFNR Career Services or give us a call at 573-882-0088.