Students say Internships are a "Heck of a Deal"

by Carol Flaherty

12/23/98 Bozeman, Mont. - "It's a heck of a deal; three credits for working and learning something you want to learn about anyway," says Bob Stevenson (32K photo) of Hobson.

Stevenson was talking about an internship he took last summer as part of his Montana State University's Animal and Range Sciences degree. He has since graduated. His internship was with Hawkeye Breeders West in Laurel, learning everything from marketing tactics to freezing, storage and shipping of beef cattle semen.

"While I was there, it was 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., but we were in the slow season. When you're working, it's 110 miles per hour," says Stevenson.

When such eleven-hour days provoke praise rather than protest, those in charge take notice. That kind of feedback has prompted MSU-Bozeman's Animal and Range Sciences to begin requiring internships for its students, says Ray Ansotegui, professor and the department's internship coordinator.

The learning starts with a student arranging an internship, says Ansotegui. Program guidelines require students to plan the internship placement, comply with the agency's or company's work schedules and regulations, submit evaluation reports, and keep in contact with an MSU advisor during the internship.

Stevenson knew about Hawkeye Breeders West through his family's business, Stevenson Angus Ranch. Farrah Grass, another of last summer's interns, first investigated a possible internship with Lancoe Animal Health in Indiana, then the World Simmental Association in Bozeman. Simmental won out. (35K photo)

"I had toured the association before," says Grass, whose family farm is near Box Elder."I thought it would be a great foot-in-the-door to meet and make connections in the livestock industry."

Grass helped run the association's Junior Program last summer, culminating in its national show.

"I coordinated contests, helped get things ready to go. I worked with parents and kids. It was a lot of answering questions and enforcing rules. When you have a parent down your throat, it's quite a challenge to deal with them as calmly and quietly as possible," says Grass.

But she also learned other parts of the association's work, including working in its publications department.

"I worked on 'The Register,'" says Grass. "I worked with the artist to coordinate advertisements, to file photos and digital scans and take requests from customers."

The internship "took all the education I had from college and put me into the job world where I had to think on my feet. I had to listen really intently to individuals as they explained everything to me. I think it will make my job search a lot easier."

Making students more successful as they search for a job is one of the goals of the internship program, says Ansotegui. Internships expose undergraduates to job experiences, may provide them with a work-world reference when they apply for a job, and can even lead to a job offer from the company or agency.

Such real-world experience is a lot different than books, says Kirsten Underdahl (90K photo), an MSU senior from Ledger who is interning in MSU's Veterinary Molecular Biology Department during fall and spring semester. One of her supervisors, Research Specialist Kerrie Rask, says Underdahl's job includes feeding calves, cleaning pens, noting any animal that is ill, administering medications and helping with research. (Kirsten with calves 149K)

"I expect Kirsten to learn about antibiotics, learn about calf diseases and how to treat them, learn how to give injections and take blood samples," says Rask.

It is a lot different from taking a class in school, says Underdahl.

"I was surprised," says Underdahl. "I had taken a herd health class in school. Getting an "A" for the class then coming out here and applying it was two different stories. I was surprised that it is harder than it seems . . . The calves are unpredictable. They don't follow the rules. I guess they didn't read the book."

Internships can be all summer, like Stevenson's and Grass', or part of the school year. Underdahl works eight to 15 hours a week at the lab while taking other classes at MSU. She plans to work at the lab for more credit during the spring semester before her graduation.

"I would have to say that the most favorite part of my years at MSU has been working here and learning. It is so one-on-one. I can ask my supervisors questions. . . It is so much more personal."

Underdahl also worked in the lab for a summer job. Compared to working with the calves as a job, the internship offers more, she says.

"I'm required to ask more questions and to follow-up with a written report on what I learned. Sometimes that written report alone requires me to further my understanding of what has taken place."

Underdahl strongly recommends students arranging internships for themselves.

"Sometimes it is hard to be interested in things when you don't see how they will fit into your life . . . sometimes you can't get the whole picture from taking classes."

Ansotegui says some students get paid during their internship, others may not.

"Pay depends on the setup. Usually, the kids get paid a minimal amount, sometimes housing and meals are included depending on where they are," says Ansotegui.

Internships can be in Montana or out-of-state. Animal and Range Science students have had internships in many businesses, all Montana congressional offices in Washington D.C., in Montana's Department of Livestock, on-campus in the Veterinary Molecular Biology Department, working with the Extension Service in county agent offices, on horse or cattle ranches, farms, and with state agricultural organizations such as the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee.

The learning does not flow just one way. Ansotegui says the university learns from students what they wish they had known before they went to the job. That helps the department adjust class content. Businesses with interns benefit too, says Scott Muilenberg of Hawkeye Breeders.

"The interns have ideas to improve some of the jobs we're doing, too," says Muilenberg. "Some have used equipment that we didn't ordinarily use, and now I'm using it more because of them. From the two interns we've had, it worked well. They were excellent workers. We're going to be in internships pretty much 100 percent now."

Sites for Photos suitable for printing:

For a portrait of Kirsten Underdahl, 200 dpi, 4x6, go to:
http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/ag/interns/kirsten2.jpg

For a photo of Kirsten Underdahl at her work site with calves, 200 dpi, 4x6, go to:
http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/ag/interns/kirsten.jpg

For a photo of Bob Stevenson at 200 dpi, mug-size, got to:
http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/ag/interns/bobs.jpg

For a portrait of Farrah Grass taken by World Simmental Association, mug size, go to:
http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/ag/interns/farah2.jpg

Send questions or comments to Carol Flaherty, MSU Communications Services, Bozeman, MT 59717 or to Flaherty with this link: carolf@montana.edu.

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