Where Are They Now? Meet Shara, a Previous On-Farm Intern Who Found Lifelong Career at the Farm Level

What does the future of the Pennsylvania dairy industry look like? For young professionals like Shara Allman, a full-time herd manager at S&A Kreider and Sons in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, she is living out her dreams at the farm level and working with cows on a daily basis. Many young herd managers like Shara get their start through…

Dairy Farms Encouraged to Host Interns and Apprentices on Their Operations

Producers and Processors Who Might Be Looking for Employees Can Apply for Interns or Apprentices Dairy producers from Pennsylvania and beyond are encouraged to apply to be a host farm in the 2025 On-Farm Internship Program. The program was designed to provide 10- to 12-week on-farm internships and create opportunities for Pennsylvania students to gain…

Meet Gavin, an On-Farm Intern Who Experienced Personal and Professional Growth on 1,000-Cow Dairy

Gavin Brophy is a junior at North Carolina State University where he’s majoring in animal science on the pre-veterinary track. He is originally from Westchester, PA, which is only a 30-minute drive from where he spent the summer through an on-farm internship at Walmoore Holsteins, Inc in Cochranville, PA. Gavin grew up in the suburbs…

Meet Darcy, an Intern Who Explored Food Science in a Dairy Processing Plant

Darcy Heltzel grew up on her family’s 120-cow dairy, Piney Mar Farm, in Martinsburg, PA. Her responsibilities on the family farm included feeding calves and milking cows. While she enjoys caring for animals, she discovered an interest in food science and is a rising sophomore studying food science at the Iowa State University. “I knew…

Students Encouraged to Apply for 2025 On-Farm and Dairy Processing Internships

College Students and High School Graduates Can Apply for an Internship, Dairy Farms and Dairy Processors Can Apply to Host an Intern Undergraduate students, high school graduates, dairy farms, and dairy processors are encouraged to apply for the 2025 Internship Program. Applications are now being accepted for On-Farm Internships, Dairy Processing Internships, and a Dairy…

Meet Adria, an On-Farm Intern Who Expanded Her Breeding and Reproduction Skills on 2,700-Cow Dairy

Adria Russell is a rising sophomore studying animal science with a minor in agriculture business at The Pennsylvania State University. Both sets of Adria’s grandparents owned dairy farms, and she grew up helping to feed calves and make hay on their farms. Now, she raises show heifers and cows at home with her family where…

Meet Kelly, an On-Farm Intern Who Gained Firsthand Experience With Rotational Grazing and Delivering Milk to Customers

Kelly Bliss grew up on her family’s farm in Huntingdon County, PA where they raise Jersey cattle, Angus cattle, and some breeding sheep. The 4-H and FFA programs she participated in allowed Kelly to become further involved in the dairy industry through showing which led to her joining the Huntingdon County Dairy Promotion team. Her…

Meet Alex, an On-Farm Intern Who’s Gaining Experience on a Robotic Dairy in New York

Alex Coursen grew up on a 60-cow robotic dairy near State College, Pennsylvania. This summer, he decided to complete an on-farm internship at Hemdale Farms in Clifton Springs, New York. While he has experience working on a robotic dairy, Hemdale Farms was a push outside his comfort zone – the farm milks approximately 1,400 cows…

Meet Lillian, an On-Farm Intern Who’s Learning About the Dairy Industry Before Starting Her Master’s Degree

Lillian Corbett is graduating from Penn State University with a bachelor’s in animal science at the end of the summer. She had some ag exposure in high school and spent time in college doing research on the University’s dairy farm. While finishing her degree over the summer, she wanted to get direct, farm-level experience and…

Meet Isabella, an On-Farm Intern Who’s Strengthening Her Breeding Skills While Learning Herd Management

Isabella Johnson started working in the dairy industry in high school, leading her towards her decision to attend Delaware Valley University where she studies Dairy Science.  As a rising senior, she has had opportunities to explore her interests within dairy farming.  She spent a previous summer breeding cows throughout the Northeastern states.  Looking towards graduation,…