Murphy-Brown recently provided an internship opportunity to 17 high school and college students to work with the company during the summer. Most of the interns worked on a sow farm while others had the opportunity to work in departments, such as the maintenance shop and Land Nutrient Management.

“The goal of the program is to expose students to careers in the swine industry by providing a real life work experience as well as tours of some of the support operations” said Jackie Bass, director of recruiting and training. Internships with Murphy-Brown are for 10-12 weeks in the summer and students use a structured development plan to gain technical competencies. Also they can participate in activities, including a day in the field with a veterinarian, a ride along with a truck driver or a visit to a feed manufacturing plant.

Here is what some of our interns had to say about their experience.

“Murphy – Brown a positive opportunity … a small step to a great future,” said Andrew Stewart of Stedman.

Clinton’s William Giddings agrees, “Great people, great experiences.”

Murphy-Brown works with the Ag Teachers in local schools to organize applications for internships. Our thanks go to Mark Stamp (Wallace-Rose Hill), Becky Shaw (James Kenan), Ray Smith (Richlands),Virgil Nicols (Purnell Swett), Bengie Forrest and Horace Johnson (agricultural education co-coordinators) for helping us to get the program started.

Murphy-Brown will be writing to local high schools later this year to offer the program for the summer of 2010.