GROWMARK's 56th annual Summer Internship program gets off to a great start!

As part of the GROWMARK Summer Internship Program, Ontario interns travelled in style on the corporate jet to meet up with another 53 summer interns; all attending an orientation session at head office in Bloomington, Illinois.

During their first, of three trips to illinois, interns got the opportunity to network with each other, meet GROWMARK executives and learn more about the organization’s co-operative roots and core business strategies.

Barry Hannah, Ontario human resources manager, handles the recruiting and placement of students throughout the province. He says he is impressed with the high caliber of interns each year. “The program has such a broad reach with recruits from 18 universities and colleges System wide.”

Interns are placed with an FS Co-operative or a GROWMARK facility and are exposed to accounting, marketing, communications and product and service-related activities. Each intern will complete a special project and deliver a presentation on that project to other interns and GROWMARK executives later this summer.

“We are very excited about the outstanding group of students this year,” says Allison Stephey, GROWMARK university relations manager. “It is encouraging that our internship opportunities reach such a diverse group. They will gain hands-on experience in their chosen field, and have the opportunity to clarify career goals.” 

From the University of Guelph, GROWMARK Ontario summer interns travelled via GROWMARK corporate jet to Illinois to meet with U.S. interns at orientation meeting on May 17.

From (L-R): Christine Wyville of Grey County (Markdale), is majoring in Honours Agriculture. Christine is working at Huron Bay Co-operative this summer as an agronomy intern specializing in documenting and reporting on Glyphosate Fleabane resistance in the region.

Darren Clark of the Chatham Kent region (Highgate), is majoring in Bachelor of Commerce, Food and Agricultural Business. Darren is placed with AGRIS Co-operative as an agronomy intern with a focus on GROWMARK’s N-WATCH program responsible for analyzing nitrogen levels in 40 plus locations.

Kaylene Sangers from Ayr is on her way to a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture majoring in Honours Agriculture. Kaylene is positioned with FS PARTNERS, also working with the N-WATCH program and as a field scout.

Christopher Albrecht from Wellesley is working towards a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture major in Animal Science. Chris is also placed with FS PARTNERS working on exploring the potential of the GROWMARK System’s planning and mapping modules.