Scholarships available for students, farms to engage in summer internship
The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania is passionate about creating opportunities to develop the next generation of the dairy industry in order to ensure its strength for the future. The foundation will join the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Dairymen's Association to provide the "On-Farm Internship Program" as an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience with a host farm committed to mentoring and teaching the next generation.
"This past summer, we have had our intern class commend the program because the experience stretched, enabled and gave them the important insight into herd management, dairy production and other key areas of a dairy business through working with a progressive host farm," said Emily Yeiser, dairy initiatives manager for the center who coordinates the program.
Scholarships of $2,000 are available to seven students to participate in on-farm internships. Interested farms and students are required to apply for the program. The program offsets the cost of the 10-12 week internship, providing farms with highly skilled interns interested in dairy production and offering the students an internship competitive with those offered by allied industries.
To be considered you must meet the following criteria:
- Prospective interns must be students attending a Pennsylvania university, a Pennsylvania resident attending an out-of-state school, or a student affiliated with a PDMP member farm with an interest in dairy production.
- Participating host farms may be located within or outside of Pennsylvania. Producers are encouraged to expose their intern to all aspects of a successful, progressive dairy operation to guide the students' eventual return to dairy production.
Applications are due to the center by January 15. Those accepted will be notified by February 15 regarding their involvement.
For more information, guidelines and online applications, go to http://centerfordairyexcellence.org/on-farm-internships/ or contact Emily Yeiser, dairy initiatives manager at the center, at 717-346-0849 or eyeiser@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
The Center for Dairy Excellence is a non-profit organization initiated by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in 2004. Bringing together people from more than 40 different dairy organizations in Pennsylvania, the center's mission is to enhance the profitability of the dairy industry by empowering people, creating partnerships and increasing the availability and use of resources. Learn more about the center at www.centerfordairyexcellence.org. 11.20.2014