Legal and Credit Intern
My name is Jack Allen, and I am from Aurora, Nebraska. I just finished my sophomore year at the University of Nebraska-Kearney studying geography and political science while wrestling for the Lopers. This summer, I am working in the Legal and Credit segment under Kara Ronnau, Kim Sulek, and Karen Joseph in the main office.
My agricultural background is unimpressive, mostly consisting of one-off, incidental odd jobs on a family or friend’s farm or the occasional cattle-wrangle for one of my teammates’ ranches. Despite my relative naivety to the ag world, I have always been aware of the hard work, long hours, and dedication necessary to work in this sector. Aurora Cooperative has always been representative of these values as I have come to know firsthand living in Aurora. My interest in the legal aspect of agribusiness largely stemmed from an environmental policy course I took this past semester, which opened my eyes to the close-knit relationship between the producer and policy in Nebraska and beyond. That experience in conjunction with my time at the cooperative has broadened my appreciation for agriculture in relation to my studies.
A typical day for me mostly involves a hodge-podge of legal, financial, and intracompany work. Some of my favorite projects so far have included gathering GIS (Geographical Information Systems) data of fuel terminal locations for optimal trucking routes, researching clean energy tax credits in prospective legislation, and training an AI document manager for longstanding lease/agreement renewals. These experiences have provided me a personal insight into the many moving parts within a cooperative business model while challenging me to learn intuitively and ask questions, no matter how elementary they might seem.
Aurora Cooperative has propelled my professional development skills drastically in the short time I’ve been here. I can quantify this growth through my newfound confidence in voicing my opinion, collaborating with others, and throwing myself into the unknown; all areas I typically struggled with in work environments. My internship with Aurora Cooperative has been the catalyst for this professional and personal growth. I appreciate my mentors’ patience and empathy, as well as the learning and growth opportunities they have offered me throughout my internship. My experience at the cooperative has been invaluable towards the pursuit of my personal, educational, and professional goals.