Meet our 2021 Interns
Dakota
Dakota is our Information Technology intern and is studying information technology - networking at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Q: How do you see this experience impacting your future?
A: “Before I started I was truly unaware of the innerworkings and differences when comparing standard office I.T. and I.T. applied to an industrial facility. This experience has, I believe, opened my eyes to a world I could make a career in.”
Q: What is your favorite thing that you’ve been able to do?
A: “Work with experienced individuals that are able to teach and mentor someone with absolutely zero industrial experience.”
Q: What is the most interesting thing you have learned?
A: “The efficiency and lack of waste of this facility absolutely astounds me, especially the process of creating biogas to boil massive amounts of water.”
Emma
Emma is our Animal Welfare intern and is studying animal science and meat science at South Dakota State University.
Q: What are some of the things that you have got to do so far?
A: “I have been able to assist in daily procedures in the stockyards, attend leadership training, audit employees for efficiency and accuracy, and begin transitioning our new hire training to an online format throughout my internship.”
Q: What is something you learned in college that you have been able to apply here?
A: “Throughout my time on the meat judging team and meat science courses at SDSU I learned to evaluate pork and understand the factors that impact pork’s quality. I have been able to use this knowledge to better understand why STF operates the way they do, so we can produce high quality pork.”
Q: How do you see this experience impacting your future?
A: “I have enjoyed this experience and look forward to using the knowledge I have gained to continue my career in the industry.”
Katie
Katie is our Human Resources intern and is studying elementary education at Wayne State College.
Q: What is the biggest thing that you have learned at STF?
A: “The biggest thing that I have learned at STF is that it takes so many people to help run a company. Everyone has a role, and that role can greatly affect how everyone is able to do their jobs.”
Q: What are some of the things you have got to do so far?
A: “The biggest things so far is that I have been able to update the handbooks as well as help to implement an anniversary process to allow for the recognition of the service of each employee who works at STF.”
Q: How do you see this experience impacting your future?
A: “This experience will help me to better my communication skills with different people from different cultures and backgrounds.”
Ramsey
Ramsey is our Wastewater intern and is studying environmental science at the University of Northern Iowa.
Q: How do you see this experience impacting your future?
A: “My experience in wastewater will give me a foundation of knowledge as I continue my education in college and continue further in my career.”
Q: What are some of the things you have got to do so far?
A: “Aid in sampling water, enter data, take inventory on chemicals, add enzymes to the lagoons.”
Q: What is the most interesting thing you have learned?
A: “How the process of filtering the water works and all of the different components that affect each step of the process.”
Drake
Drake is our Accounting intern and is studying accounting at Morningside University.
Q: What is something you learned in college that you have been able to apply here?
A: “There are quite a few things that I have learned in college that I have been able to use here. However, I think the experience of working here is far more useful then doing classwork. When you work here, you can see how everything you do makes an impact.”
Q: What is the most interesting thing that you have learned?
A: “The most interesting thing I have learned here is just how all departments are connected. There are a lot of different people working in different areas, but each department depends on the others.”
Q: Favorite thing you have been able to do so far?
A: “Meet new people.”
Lakin
Lakin is our Purchasing intern and is studying supply chain management at Western Illinois University.
Q: What are some of the things you have got to do so far?
A: “I have been very lucky to be able to do many different things during my time so far. A typical day for me includes making purchase orders from requisitions, invoices, or for reorder points. When I am not doing that, I am helping people in my department or sourcing products.”
Q: What is the most interesting thing you have learned?
A: “I think everything that I have learned has been interesting and beneficial. I would say the experience as a whole for me is the “biggest” thing that I have taken away from this being my first time working in this sort of industry. Everything has been new, and I am grateful this internship is giving me so much hands-on experience to learn. My team is good at helping make sure I get to work with everyone and learn different things.”
Q: What is your favorite thing that you have been able to do?
A: “My favorite thing that I have done so far is sourcing products. This means that I am given an item that I get to reach out to different suppliers about and see if I can find a better deal. When I find something for a cheaper price it’s a very rewarding feeling.”