MSU IAT - Kellogg Community College

🌟Internship Highlight: Patrick Priesman 🌟

MSU IAT @ KCC Ag Operations student, Patrick Priesman, is gaining valuable hands-on experience this summer with Xact Excavating in Olivet, Michigan. Throughout his internship, Patrick has been operating a variety of heavy equipment, including excavators, backhoes, skid steers, and more working on active job sites.

In addition to building his equipment operation skills, Patrick is currently working toward earning his CDL so he can drive commercial trucks. His long-term goal is to combine his passion for agriculture with entrepreneurship by owning and operating his own excavating business alongside his farming operation.

We're excited to see Patrick continue building the skills and experience that will help him achieve his future goals. Great work, Patrick!

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🌿 Internship Highlight: Sarah Sheets 🌿

This summer, Sarah has been gaining valuable hands-on experience working in the greenhouse at NorthPointe Woods Assisted Living in Battle Creek, Michigan. Throughout her internship, Sarah is building greenhouse production skills while making a meaningful impact on the residents she serves.

Sarah helps plant, grow, and maintain a variety of produce, herbs, and flowers in the greenhouse and bed areas. The fresh produce harvested is used by the facility's kitchen to supplement meals for residents, making her work an important part of enhancing their dining experience.

We're proud of Sarah for combining her passion for agriculture with service to others and wish her continued success throughout her internship!

WorkBasedLearning

🌼 Student Internship Highlight: Samara Howard 🌼

This summer, Samara Howard is gaining hands-on experience through her internship at Wenke Greenhouses.

During her internship, Samara has been involved in seed sowing, watering, quality checks, and pest management, helping ensure healthy, high-quality plants from propagation through production. These experiences are giving her valuable insight into the greenhouse industry while building skills in plant care and crop management.

Wenke Greenhouses is a family-owned business known for producing high-quality bedding plants, annuals, perennials, and specialty crops. Their commitment to innovation and excellence provides an outstanding learning environment for students pursuing careers in horticulture.

We're proud to see Samara applying her classroom knowledge in a real-world setting while growing her skills in the horticulture industry. Keep up the great work, Samara!

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🐄 Student Internship Highlight: Serenity Trott 🐄

This summer, Serenity Trott is gaining valuable hands-on experience as a DHI specialist with CentralStar Cooperative .

During her time, Serenity helps prepare and set up dairy herd testing equipment, collects milk samples throughout the milking process, and manages herd data using programs such as Excel, DairyComp, PC Dart, and LinkQuick. Her work helps provide dairy producers with accurate information to make informed herd management decisions.

CentralStar Cooperative is a leading provider of dairy herd improvement services, laboratory testing, and consulting, supporting dairy farms across the Midwest with the data and resources they need to succeed.

We're proud of Serenity for taking advantage of this opportunity to build technical skills, gain real-world industry experience, and represent our program so well. Keep up the great work, Serenity!

CentralStarCooperative FutureOfAgriculture

🌱 Student Internship Highlight: Emma Darrow 🌱

Emma is gaining valuable industry experience through her internship with Hoffman Ag Services in Marshall, Michigan.
During her internship, Emma has had the opportunity to work both in the field and in the office, developing a broad understanding of agricultural operations.
She assists with crop scouting corn and soybean fields, flies drones to monitor crop health and field conditions, and conducts stand counts using both drone technology and traditional measurement methods. Emma also collects soil and tissue samples that help growers make informed management decisions throughout the growing season.
In addition to her agronomy work, Emma has gained experience in agricultural retail operations by working the scale, weighing fertilizer loads, creating work orders, billing customers, assisting with chemical and bagged fertilizer sales, answering phone calls, and processing customer payments.
Through her internship at Hoffman Ag Services, Emma is building valuable skills in agronomy, precision agriculture, customer service, and agribusiness management. We are proud of her dedication and look forward to seeing how these experiences help shape her future in the agriculture industry!

🌸Student Internship Highlight: Arinn Wing🌸

Arinn is gaining valuable hands-on experience this semester through her internship at Cotant's Greenhouses, a family-owned greenhouse that has been serving the Hastings community for generations with quality plants, flowers, and gardening products.

During her internship, Arinn works in both the greenhouse and customer service areas, helping care for plants while assisting customers with their gardening needs. This experience is helping her build skills in horticulture, communication, and customer service. Keep up the great work, Arinn!

🌍🇨🇮 Student Spotlight: Willow Payne at CAFRE in Northern Ireland 🐄🐑

This past semester, MSU IAT–KCC student Willow Payne studied abroad at CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise) in Northern Ireland, where she gained hands-on agricultural experiences and unforgettable memories.

While at CAFRE, Willow completed modules in Arable Crop Studies, Dairy Enterprise, and Grass & Forage Production & Mechanisation. One of the highlights of her experience was working directly with livestock — including time milking cows and lambing sheep.“The hands-on experience was incredibly useful,” Willow shared. “Professionally because I can now put my experiences on my resume, and personally because I achieved my goal of learning about animal husbandry.”

Beyond the classroom and farm, Willow embraced new experiences through travel and culture. During her semester abroad, she traveled throughout Northern Ireland and visited Switzerland, Scotland, and London — experiencing mountains, oceans, and European landmarks.

Willow also reflected on the friendships she built during her time abroad, saying her roommate experience turned into lifelong connections and summer plans together.
“Overall, my time at CAFRE was extremely positive, and I would recommend it to people who are interested because I gained a lot of beneficial experiences I wouldn’t have been able to get if I stayed home.”

We are proud to see our students gaining global perspectives and hands-on agricultural experiences around the world! 🌱✈️

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Hands-on learning in action! 🧑‍🍳🚛

Students in our Food Processing program recently completed lab activities inside the Mobile Food Processing Lab, gaining real-world experience with industry equipment and processes. From practicing food safety protocols to working through production steps, students applied classroom knowledge in a dynamic, professional setting.

These interactive labs help build confidence, develop technical skills, and prepare students for careers in the food processing industry. 🌱🔬

Apply today to start your Food Processing Education Fall 2026!
https://www.canr.msu.edu/iat/apply/

📣 Big News for Food Workforce Training in Michigan!

Michigan State University’s Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) is expanding its Food Processing, Technology & Safety (FPTS) training program thanks to a new $2.36M U.S. Department of Education grant.
The funding will grow partnerships from 3 to 11 community colleges across the state and increase access to hands-on, industry-aligned training that leads directly to good jobs in Michigan’s food and agriculture sector.

🎓 Learners will be able to earn MSU certificates, associate degrees, flexible micro-credentials, and access scholarships to reduce barriers. The initiative also includes the creation of a second mobile food processing lab and an online talent marketplace to connect students with employers.

🤝 Built with input from industry and workforce partners, this expansion aims to fill thousands of open jobs and strengthen Michigan’s workforce with in-demand skills.

Check out the article here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/msu-iat-expands-food-processing-technology-and-safety-workforce-training

Interested in learning more about the MSU IAT programs? Visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/iat/about

🗓👈 Mark your calendars!
Apply for free to MSU IAT, March 2nd - 15th!