College Students and High School Graduates Can Apply for an Internship, Dairy Farms Can Apply to Host an Intern
Undergraduate students and high school graduates are encouraged to apply for two 2027 internship opportunities. Applications are now being accepted for On-Farm Internships and a Dairy Education and Communications Internship next summer. Dairy farms can also now apply to host on-farm interns during the summer of 2027. The Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania (PDMP), Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, and Dairy Excellence Foundation partner to support the On-Farm Internship program, while the Center for Dairy Excellence sponsors the Dairy Education and Communications Internship. Online internship applications for both opportunities, as well as an online host farm application, are now available and due in November.
“These internship opportunities are a great way for students to take their personal interests in dairy science, animal science, or even agricultural communications, and expand on their knowledge through real-world experience,” said Michelle Shearer, Workforce Development Manager at the Dairy Excellence Foundation. “At the farm level, these are competitive internships that help expose students to new management styles, different herd sizes, new technology, and different work environments. Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in dairy production, while the dairy producers who participate in the program have the opportunity to mentor a young dairy professional and lighten the workload of other team members during the summer months.”
The On-Farm Internship experiences give high school graduates and undergraduate college students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in dairy production through a 10- to 12-week internship at the farm level. Participating students receive a $3,000 stipend in addition to compensation from their host farms. To apply, students must meet one of the following requirements:
- Currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, a Pennsylvania university or college
- A resident of Pennsylvania who is currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, an out-of-state university or college
- A resident of Pennsylvania with a high school diploma and between the ages of 18 and 25 as of June 15, 2027, who has agriculture experience and an interest in dairy farming
In addition, students must be either majoring in Animal Sciences or a related agriculture field or gaining experience in production agriculture. Students who are accepted into the On-Farm Internship program are paired with host farms that can help them solidify their career goals. Throughout the experience, interns will participate in discussion groups, set goals for the summer, and complete an in-depth research project. Dairy farms that are interested in hosting an intern may be located within or outside of Pennsylvania, but producers must agree to expose the intern to all aspects of a successful, progressive dairy operation.
“I knew I was going to get a good learning experience with hands-on skills through this internship. It was nice being able to work with robots since I’ve never actually seen them before. The health and mastitis side were also very interesting to me. We do some of it at school, but they never fully explained why we’re doing it or what we’re looking at,” shared Malayna Barnhart, a senior at Delaware Valley University who completed an on-farm internship. “I loved the hands-on part of the job, and I really enjoyed this experience. It was a great learning opportunity.”
The Center for Dairy Excellence is also seeking a Dairy Education, Programs and Communications Intern for May-August 2027. Applicants must be entering at least their sophomore year of an undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university. This is a paid internship with a competitive hourly wage for 10-12 weeks at 40 hours a week. The intern will assist with the continued development of dairy education curriculum programs, creating communications and marketing content, and planning youth educational events.
Student applications for all internship opportunities are due by November 1, 2026. Host farm applications are due by November 15, 2026.
Visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/internship for more information about the program. Contact Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org or 570-768-8316 with questions.