Agronomy and Feed Sales Intern

I’m Trevor Parde, and I’m from Adams, NE. This fall, I will be a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in Animal Science with minors in Agricultural Economics and Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship. This summer, I will be interning in Minden, NE, under Randall Horine as a Feed and Agronomy Sales Intern. 

I grew up on a row crop operation just outside of Adams, NE, and I was an active participant in the show pig industry and my local 4-H and FFA programs. These experiences built my passion for agriculture and further prepared me for my future in the industry. On campus, I’m the Vice President of Pork of Block and Bridle and serve as the Fraternity Educator in Alpha Gamma Sigma. Through my experiences, I have developed a large passion for show pigs and all that they offer. I want a career that fulfills the passion I have for the livestock and agriculture industries, which led me to pursue an internship with Aurora Cooperative. 

As an intern in both the agronomy and animal nutrition divisions, I have had many diverse experiences that have taught me a lot so far. Through working with Randall and other agronomists, I have learned so many things from growing stages to how different chemical applications affect different crops and weeds. Through working with Allied Nutrition, I have been able to deepen my understanding of animal nutrition and its impact on livestock performance throughout the summer. One of my favorite aspects of this summer is being able to do things on my own and deliver feed to different producers. Since I am not from this area, I have gained many valuable connections with area producers that have taught me a lot about how to best serve others as a salesman. I also thoroughly enjoy being able to look at producers’ livestock, especially show pigs, and help them with how to feed their livestock in the best way to reach their goals. It’s rewarding to hear from customers about how our products help them and their operations succeed. Through this, I learned the value of building a trusting relationship with customers and providing quality service.

This summer, I have deepened my understanding of animal nutrition that I have developed over the years and learned more about row crop agronomy to give back to the industry that has developed me into who I am today. I have thoroughly enjoyed our Professional Development Fridays, which have given me great insight into how a cooperative operates and all of the different segments that there are within the cooperative. As I look forward to the second half of the summer, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to intern with Aurora Cooperative. This summer has taught me a lot about myself personally and professionally, and I look forward to the opportunity to grow my skills even further and pursue a career in the agricultural industry.