How do you get a job without experience?
And how do you get experience without a job?
Ten interns who are working for Farm Credit Services of Mid-America this summer are solving this problem by taking advantage of the opportunity to work and learn in a real work environment with mentors and professionals who work in their respective fields of study. The opportunity is a major step in preparing college students to enter the world of life after college.
Megan is one of a group of 10 interns and is working out of the Murfreesboro office this summer. She is originally from Lebanon and is currently a senior studying Animal Science and Environmental Soil Science at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where she is involved with the UT Student Livestock Association and Sigma Alpha a professional sorority which promotes women pursuing careers in agriculture. Megan is planning on graduating in December of 2011 upon completion of her livestock judging season with UT.
According to Ashley Searles, recruitment specialist for Farm Credit, the internship allows college students to practically apply the skills they are learning in college. “They are getting first hand look at what a lending officer does for Farm Credit and can apply what they’ve learned in a real-life situation,” she said.
As interns, the ten students are assigned mentors who guide them through the components of the lending business and helped with their career objectives. Johns is participating in many aspects of the lending business, attending sales meetings, and completing specialized projects.
Megan’s projects include developing a marketing plan to maximize cross-selling opportunities for the customer, assisting on the Heritage Farm project which recognizes our customers who have been a member FCS for 50 consecutive years. She will also be assisting the office in planning several customer appreciation events throughout the summer.
Interns also attend an Intern Retreat, this year they will be traveling to Ohio Amish Country to experience the culture and see to customers in the area.
“Certainly job experience is one benefit of Farm Credit’s college intern program,” said Jim Clark, Financial Service Officer with Farm Credit Services who is mentoring Johns. “But the interns also get the added benefit of interesting research projects, cross-training, and many networking opportunities with other interns through Farm Credit’s four state area.”
The opportunity to network and have a better understanding of what people do in the field of finance were motivating factors for this set of interns. And like many Farm Credit interns before, the experience may help them decide to enter the world of agricultural finance after they complete college.
Farm Credit Services of Mid-America is a $15.5 billion financial services cooperative serving more than 85,500 farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. The association provides loans for all farm and rural living purposes including real estate, operating, equipment and housing and related services such as crop and life insurance and vehicle, equipment and building leases. For more information about Farm Credit, call 1-800-444-FARM (3276).
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