MKC's internship program provides value in careers

By Cassie Wandersee, Staff Writer

Internships are an integral part in attracting the best and brightest individuals, and their ideas, to MKC and their partner in business, TMA, in order to better serve their customers.
 

“I think one of the benefits for producers is the talent and raw knowledge that an intern can bring to the table,” said Jeremy Peterson who completed an internship in the summer of 2010. During his internship Peterson was able to work in several different areas of the company including agronomy and grain.

 

Now looking back on his experience, Peterson recognizes the value it offered to him as well. "As a student going into the workforce it makes a huge difference having real world experience," stated Peterson.  "A structured intern program such as MKC's gives people a chance to 'try before you buy' when making those career path decisions."

 

After completing an associate's degree in agriculture business from Butler County Community College and continuing studies at Oklahoma State University, Peterson made the choice to return to MKC to work fulltime.  First working as a managment trainee and then transitioning into sales where he currently works as a field marketer.

 

"The atmosphere and the opportunity were the main reasons I chose to stay," Peterson said. "I felt like working for a ocmpany that is doing very well in the current economy was a good choice for me."

 

Justin Jenkins is also a previous intern that was offered a fulltime position following his graduation from Kansas State University in 2011 with a degree in agri-economics and a minor in animal science.

“The internship was a great opportunity for me to go out and experience the world outside of the family farm,” said Jenkins.

Jenkins spent his summer internship shadowing TMA representatives to learn the various contracts they use in conducting business. “As an intern I gained experience on the job that helped me get into the field sooner after I was offered a full time position,” Jenkins said.

Jonathan Reazin completed his internship in the summer of 2010. “During my internship I was able to see that MKC was a growing and successful co-op, and I wanted to be a part of it,” commented Reazin. “I could see that with a growing company I would be able to grow and progress as well.”

Reazin graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in agricultural education but felt like he couldn’t progress in a career in the education field. “I really like the thought of working hard and being able to progress through a company.”

Following his graduation Reazin was hired fulltime to work as a field marketer trainee and then transitioned into an agronomy sales and service specialist position at the Lindsborg location. Recently, he was promoted to the position of Location Manager at Galva.

Christian Loganbill worked as an intern during the development years of the program; he is now the Location Grain Manager at Lindsborg and utilizes interns in the summer to assist with running seasonal elevators, “This allows interns to form relationships with producers that they may end up serving in a bigger role sometime in the future.”

Since 2009 over 40 college students have benefited from the internship program, with approximately 30 percent of those students being hired to work fulltime following their graduation.

Loganbill said, “I think it shows the company’s dedication to finding good talent and hiring the best people we can to serve producers.”

 

While one of the main goals for the internship is to find quality future employees, the underlying purpose is to better the agriculture industry overall.

“If he or she can take that set of skills and experiences back to the farm and apply them, I feel like both the producers and we as a company share the benefit,” Peterson said.

Interns also take valuable experience into other areas of the agricultural industry.

“I was excited to gain valuable work experience in the agriculture industry through communication work at MKC,” said Nichole Gouldie who began her internship in the summer of 2009 and came back for the two following summers.

Gouldie graduated from Kansas State University in the fall of 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, dual majoring in agricultural communications and journalism and animal sciences and industry.

“As a communications intern at MKC I gained valuable experience in writing, editing and event planning. The opportunities have helped to make me successful in my current role,” said Gouldie who now works for the Ranchland Trust of Kansas as the Associate Director. In her position she is exclusively responsible for all communications, event management, overseeing donor fundraising efforts, and promoting educational efforts focusing on conserving Kansas’ grasslands.

“I believe that every college student should have an internship, and MKC’s intern program is at the top of its class,” Gouldie went on to say. “The breadth of knowledge and wide range of experience that you gain by completing this program is bar none.”