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2021 SUMMER INTERNS: Jake Kuehn

Aurora Cooperative 3 years ago

My name is JAKE KUEHN and I am interning for the Prairie Valley team as well as for the Agronomy Sales team out of Minden, NE. This coming fall will be the start of my last year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where I will be graduating with a degree in Agronomy and a minor in Agribusiness. Previously I had interned with two independent crop consultants so getting the opportunity to intern at a cooperative has been something new for me. Getting an up-close look at the inner workings of a cooperative and how it operates has provided me with a new perspective of the agriculture industry.  

This season has consisted of a variety of different tasks. So far I have made multiple seed deliveries and pick-ups which usually lands me somewhere in central or western Kansas. While on my trips to Kansas I have had the opportunity to observe some Prairie Valley test plots located at the Kansas State Research-Extension Center in Colby. At these plots I’m able to document how certain hybrids are performing, not only against each other but against competitor hybrids as well. I have also had the chance to meet some of the local growers and to see how their farms operate and run. It has been a great experience getting to see how agriculture practices and cultures change from one state to another, so I feel very fortunate to get the chance to be a part of it. On top of that Prairie Valley has been hosting a Field Focus series for local dealers at a number of different test plots across many locations throughout the state. At these trainings we look at a number of different Prairie Valley hybrids and discuss each one, making sure that dealers know exactly what they are selling and what they can do to make sure that each grower has the best suited hybrid for each unique field. In the next couple of weeks I’m expecting to start posting signs for test plots across all the locations. 

At the Minden location I’ve been doing a lot of the same things. Making deliveries of parts or seed to the surrounding locations, scouting fields and learning about application timing and the different herbicides and their modes of action. It’s been a good experience for me to get to work with both Prairie Valley and with Minden Agronomy. Getting a look at both parts of Aurora Cooperative has given me a wider range of experience that I know will help me with my future plans. 

This summer my goal is to gather up as much experience and new knowledge that I can while I’m here, while building off of my past internship experiences. I am also looking forward to building new relationships within the company and to leave with a network of good, genuine people and a portfolio of valuable work experience. I’m extremely grateful to learn from some of the most knowledgeable people in the agriculture industry and I look forward to a summer full of opportunities.