Working on a farm almost anything can happen at any time. From getting charged by an angry bull to driving a tractor backward for a mile or so, it's just another day on the farm. My name is Evan Pickering and I am from Galena, MD. I am currently a sophomore at the Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) as an Agricultural Business Management student. I am also in Ag Forward in which I am pursuing my bachelor's degree in Animal Science.
This summer I was blessed to have my internship at the Wye Research and Education Center, more specifically at the Wye Angus facility. During my time there I did a multitude of different tasks which included fencing, cutting hay, mowing grass, and overall maintenance of herd health. One of my favorite projects on the farm was whenever we would move cows into the cattle chute, whether it was pregnancy checks or vaccinating. Something about working with all the cows and working as a team has made it some of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of this summer.
Over the summer one thing that stood out to me was the ability to work independently with confidence that was built up through the guidance and encouragement of my supervisors and coworkers. There was never a day that went by where something odd or funny didn't happen. This internship allowed me to see all aspects of what it is like to run a successful animal production operation, something I aspire to do after I graduate. My dream career is to own my own ranch or cattle operation that utilizes all sides of agriculture to produce a profit. I got to see everything from the obvious farmhand work all the way to herd management and program operations, which allowed me to see everything I might be getting myself into as I pursue a career in farm management.
Over the summer I gained some more leadership skills and experience, became proficient in operating heavy machinery, gained useful animal handling experience, and furthered my knowledge of animal science and nutrition. I also learned more about what it is like to work in a team with a different internal structure than I’m used to. This allowed me to apply this team dynamic to future applications because of its high success that I saw firsthand over the past few months. I can take a lot of different quotes or sayings away from my time on the farm this summer, but one that stood out to me was from my coworker Dean. He said, “If you are gonna say it, you gotta be it” which reminds me to stick to my beliefs and “trust my gut.”
In conclusion, the internship at Wye Angus allowed me to grow as a person, team member, and agriculturally minded student. The experiences I had have further pushed me to pursue a career in agriculture and tailor my classes further to go into animal management. I am beyond blessed to have been a part of this internship and especially grateful for the connections and friendships I made along the way.
