Student Summer Internships 2012

Three students, three internships, one enlightening summer; A&E students grab hold of internship opportunities and gain much more than expected.

Farm Days

Through her involvement with Locavore Club, junior Environmental Science major, Wiepie Rojas, had the opportunity to meet and land an internship with Joy and Kerry Hedges of Slowpoke Farm in Cisco.

Rojas took part in the day-to-day caring of the chickens and milking the cows. She worked with raised bed gardens and helped install drip irrigation. Her special project, which is still under construction, was a mobile chicken coop. Rojas and her team took an old cotton trailer and are installing a roof, door, laying boxes, roosts and other features.

“My favorite part about the internship was the relationships formed and hard work,” said Rojas. “It increased my desire to own a farm one day and supply people with fresh, raw, real food.”

Summer with the Congresswoman

Senior Agribusiness major, Kyle Ferrell spent his summer days alongside Congresswoman Kay Granger, working in the District office in Forth Worth as a Special Projects intern focusing on office organization and agricultural updates for the 12th District of Texas.

One of Ferrell’s major projects was an agricultural overview of the District which includes Parker, Wise and part of Tarrant County. He had the opportunity to work with Dr. Dean McCorkle, Texas A&M University Extension Program Specialist-Economic Accountability. Together, they researched the economic impact of the counties, drought information and the current agribusiness presence in the District.

“I enjoyed working with agrilife extension service and doing research for the Congresswoman,” said Ferrell. “I saw a different side of the government and learned how directly constituents can be involved.”

Fun at the Zoo

Senior Animal Science major, Jaimie Howard, worked at the Abilene Zoo as a Mammal Department Intern, helping with the routine cleaning, feeding and husbandry of the animals.

Her hoofstock route featured lemurs, guanacos, Patagonian maras, zebras, ostriches and giraffes. Howard helped with one of the giraffe’s medical procedures, helped build the swift fox exhibit and created enrichment projects. Her internship is actually extending into the semester where she will be working with big cats and rhinos.

“My favorite part of the job was interacting with the animals and learning their personality and quirks,” said Howard. “I am interested in working with exotic animals in my career and this experience confirmed the idea.”

For more information, contact the student or visit these websites:

Congresswoman Kay Granger:

http://kaygranger.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=140&sectiontree=3,140

Abilene Zoo:

http://www.abilenezoo.org/teens.html