College Students Get Real World Experience During Intern Program

Louisville, Kentucky – August 27, 2007 - How do you get a job without experience?  And how do you get experience without a job?  Twelve interns who worked for Farm Credit Services of Mid-America this summer solved 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 was a major step in preparing them to enter the world of life after college.

According to Ashley Gaslin, recruitment specialist for FCS, the internship allowed students to practically apply the skills they learned in college. “They got a 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 twelve students were assigned mentors who guided them through the components of the lending business and helped with their career objectives.  The interns participated in many aspects of the lending business, attended sales meetings, and completed specialized projects such as direct mail campaigns, special event planning, customer research and underwriting standards.  They also participated in an Intern Retreat visiting Remington Hybrid Seeds, the Iroquois Ethanol Plan and Fair Oaks Dairy Adventure.

“Certainly job experience is one benefit of Farm Credit’s college intern program,” said Gaslin.“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.

Photo Caption

Farm Credit’s 2007 Summer Interns enjoyed a trip to Remington Hybrid Seeds in Indiana.  Pictured are Adam Loy, Matt Murphy, Eric Hess, Bonnie Fakes, Justin Tidwell, Craig von Stein, Chris Cherry, Brittany Jasko, Amber Thompson, Mary Estock, Holly Post and Leann Little

About Farm Credit Services

Farm Credit Services of Mid-America is an $12 billion financial services cooperative serving over 75,000 farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. The association, which celebrated its 90th anniversary serving rural America last year, provide 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).