Information Technology Intern
Hello, I’m Zane Eggleston, a junior at Hastings College where I study Computer Science and run track. I was born and raised in Broken Bow, Nebraska. This summer, I’m interning in the IT department at Aurora Cooperative’s headquarters under my mentor, Chris Holliday, and the IT team.
My experiences with agriculture growing up were very one-sided, mainly revolving around the family ranch during my elementary through early college years. As I got older, I took on maintenance tasks such as fencing, machine upkeep, pasture spraying, and all things in-between. These tasks and experiences in agriculture left me interested in the cooperative sector, which has allowed me to learn about farming and other unexplored agricultural aspects during my internship. Development days and various IT tasks have provided opportunities to visit different sites and see the different branches of agriculture.
There’s never been two days that were the same working as an IT intern. Initially, I spent time shadowing team members, which gradually progressed to more independent tasks, like replacing an outdated computer individually at the airport, or wiping outdated servers. On a more typical day, I’m answering calls to troubleshoot issues with employees, while chipping away on several ongoing projects.
Throughout this internship, although I’ve mastered only a few skills, I’ve been exposed to many programs and utilities. As the summer is wrapping up, I look forward to working on the company’s database and gaining as much exposure as possible. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity Aurora Cooperative has provided, as I’m gaining experience that is difficult to obtain most places. Additionally, I appreciate the patience of the department, who have guided me through many new concepts. Overall, this summer’s experience is something I will always look back on appreciatively.