UF Animal Sciences Department

Speaker Spotlight! 🐑 🐐

The 5th Annual UF Small Ruminant Short Course is coming up soon, and we would like to introduce one of our guest speakers that will be joining us! Dr. Leonor Sicalo Gianechini is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a board-certified veterinary parasitologist who has completed valuable research in many areas of animal health.

Dr. Sicalo Gianechini's research focuses on gastrointestinal parasites of livestock that integrates field studies, laboratory assays, and genomic approaches to continue improving parasite control systems. We are excited to hear her insights on this area during her lecture, "Sustainable Parasite Control Strategies" on Friday, September 18th.

We hope to see you soon! Use this link to learn more and register: https://tinyurl.com/mr7mj4fj

Summer Internship Highlight!

Jenna Larson, class of 2027, has been interning with Royal Farms Dairy in Garden City, Kansas! She has rotated around the different operational crews on the Dairy including breeding, heifers and dry cows, hospital, and maternity. Throughout her rotations, Jenna gained new skills like the ability to breed, ultrasound for pregnancy, give IV's, and reposition calves for assisted birth. Her favorite part of this internship was spending time in the Hospital and Maternity Departments. She says, "In hospital, every day was different. I was able to listen to pneumonia with a stethoscope, smell "ketosis" breath in cows, differentiate between different mastitis symptoms and the pathogen causing it, and I got to help with a displaced abomasum surgery! In maternity, I just loved those little calves. I got to feed a ton of calves and process new cows."

Jenna believes her internship enhanced her undergraduate experience by allowing her to immerse herself in real-world operations. She believes seeing how management executes tasks in real time helped to reinforce concepts learned in her classes, and that living far from home gave her a strengthened sense of independence and confidence.

Her advice to a student who may want to participate in an internship is, "You can only gain from getting outside your comfort zone! Be the "yes" man or woman. Saying yes will open doors that a fear-driven "no" will always keep locked."

Congratulations, Jenna! 🎉

Summer Internship Highlight!

Julissa Zaragoza is a member of the class of 2027 and interned with Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples, FL! Through this experience, she has been able to learn about various components of animal care and has worked with a broad variety of species. She assisted with setting up the mammal, reptile, nursery, and quarantine rooms at the facility, where she was responsible for cleaning and setting up cages. She was able to learn about animal health through monitoring weight and behaviors, and how to determine if an animal was ready to return to the wild. After her morning tasks, she was able to observe tortoises and their behaviors, as well as prepare diets for all of the animals at the Conservancy. Julissa also gained experience in preparing medications for the morning and afternoon, and maintaining a safe and clean environment for the animals.

She believes the best part of her internship was working with such a broad range of animals. Julissa says, "Every day was a wonderful experience as I observed their natural behaviors in such an open setting. Ultimately, I was lucky enough to hold many adorable baby animals for feeding and weighing. I was always happy to hold these tiny creatures, feeling their soft fur or feathers and watching how they responded to our care. These moments not only strengthened my bond with the animals but also made my time at the facility truly memorable." She believes her experiences provided her with valuable skills that she will apply in her future career. Through assisting with veterinary procedures, she believes she has a stronger understanding of animal care standards and advanced practices in the industry.

Her advice to a student considering an internship is, "Intentionally pursue activities or challenges outside your comfort zone or typical career path. Doing so can help you acquire diverse experiences and insights, ultimately guiding you to discover what truly drives your passion and meet amazing people who help you along the way."

Congratulations, Julissa! 🎉

Summer Internship Highlight!

Aubrey Terribile has been completing an internship with Deseret Cattle and Citrus in St. Cloud, FL! She is a member of the class of 2027, and believes she has gained valuable experiences this summer that have prepared her for her future career. At Deseret, Aubrey has been able to rotate cow-calf pairs to working cattle, maintain pastures, operate equipment, and learn about the management behind one of the nation's largest cow-calf operations. She says her internship was very immersive, providing her with a new perspective of beef cattle management. Aubrey says, "I learned not only how cattle are raised but also why management decisions are made, from prioritizing animal health and welfare to caring for the land and producing a safe, high-quality food supply. Seeing the dedication, knowledge, and stewardship that goes into every aspect of the operation has given me a much deeper appreciation for the people who work tirelessly to feed our communities."

Her favorite part of this internship was spending early mornings working and admiring the ranch. She believes this time allowed her to deepen her admiration for nature and agriculture while being connected with the animals on the operation. She hopes to apply all of her new knowledge in the future as an agriculture teacher. Aubrey is eager to teach students how their food is produced and strengthen their understanding of the importance of agriculture and advocacy. She says, "This internship has strengthened my passion for educating others and has prepared me to share the true story of agriculture with the next generation. I am incredibly grateful to Deseret Cattle & Citrus for this unforgettable opportunity. The experiences, mentors, and memories I've gained this summer will stay with me throughout my career."

Her advice to a student who may want an internship is, "Trust yourself and be confident enough to step outside your comfort zone and try something new. Internships are meant to help you build your knowledge, so it's okay if you start without knowing much."

Congratulations, Aubrey! 🎉

Come work with us! 🐄

Our Dairy Research Unit is looking for an Agricultural Assistant who can help with daily operations at the facility. You will have the opportunity to carry out milking procedures, monitor herd health, and make sure the facility is running properly.

Check out this link or share with a friend who may be interested! https://tinyurl.com/3e7jh6re

The 2026 UF Small Ruminant Short Course is coming up! 🐐 🐏

On September 18-19, we are offering both an in-person and ONLINE attendance option for this event! We are excited to expand our attendance opportunities and we can't wait to see who joins us on camera!

Join us here at the UF/IFAS Extension Straughn Professional Development Center or VIRTUALLY for an informative and exciting short course. We are excited to hear about a wide range of topics including pest management, forages, and business practices.

Use this link to register and view the agenda! https://tinyurl.com/46p2ar99

Summer Internship Highlight!

Shelby Johnson is a member of the class of 2027 and has been interning with ST Genetics Ohio Heifer Center in South Charleston, Ohio! She has learned about each aspect of ST Genetics by spending three weeks in each of their departments. In Maternity, she was able to assist with calving's, fresh cow care, and neonatal care. In Calf Care, she fed calves, monitored calf health, and cleaned their areas. Through the Veterinary department she learned about animal health, assessing animal conditions, and selecting and administering treatments, and in the IVF/ET department, she assisted with reproductive procedures! Her favorite part of this internship was spending time in the Maternity and IVF/ET departments where she gained hands-on experience and valuable knowledge.

Shelby believes she has gained many skills by participating in her internship as well. She believes she has strengthened her ability to assist with reproductive technologies, veterinary procedures, and overall herd health. In addition, she has gained confidence, communications skills, and the ability to adapt to new situations. Shelby also says, "This internship has enhanced my undergraduate experience by allowing me to take what I have learned in the classroom and apply it to real life situations. It has given me hands on experience and allowed me to continue learning while gaining skills that I can carry with me into the future."

Her advice to a student who may be considering an internship is, "Go for it and don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone, even if it means traveling across the country. It may be nerve-racking at first, but when you look back at the end of your internship, you realize how much you learned, how many new experiences you gained, and how much you grew both personally and professionally."

Congratulations, Shelby! 🎉

Summer Internship Highlight!

Ansley Bo, member of the class of 2027, has been completing an internship with Square One Agri Marketing. She has traveled with them to events in Florida and Georgia! Ansley also extended her internship experience by being selected as a photography intern for the 2026 Indiana State Fair.

With Square One Agri marketing, she traveled throughout Florida photographing cattle shows, traveled to Georgia to gather media for cattle operations and sale catalogs, and gained experience in photo editing, social media management, and videography. As she prepares for her duties at the Indiana State Fair, Ansley believes the diverse experiences she was given with Square One have prepared her to further learn and grow to share about agriculture through media.

Her favorite part of her internship has been being placed in new opportunities to strengthen her skills. She says, "I have loved that every day brings something new, allowing me to constantly learn, grow, and challenge myself. My photography skills have skyrocketed in the short time I have owned a camera, and I am excited to continue building on everything I have learned." She also appreciates the relationships she has been able to develop, and says, "To grow in this industry, you need people in your corner who support you and genuinely want to see you succeed. I am incredibly grateful to have found that at Square One."

Her advice to a student who is interested in an internship is, "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Never say no to an opportunity because you never know where it may lead, and never become discouraged when you don’t get the answer you are hoping for right away." We are wishing her the best of luck as she prepares to take on her second internship experience this August!

Congratulations, Ansley! 🎉

Summer Internship Highlight!

Eva Woods is a member of the class of 2027 and has been interning with CJEJ Farm-The Meat House, in Columbia, New Hampshire!

Through her experience, Eva has been able to learn about all aspects of CJEJ farm's procedures and how it functions. She has packaged custom orders, driven to a family-owned dairy to do pickups for the CJEJ store, as well as processed and packaged meat. She also completed farm chores caring for all species on the operation, helped execute large tours and events, and was able to learn more about landmarks and navigation through the county. In addition, Eva helped to promote CJEJ by assisting with photography and marketing for their social media!

Her favorite part of her internship has been immersing herself in each unique aspect of the farm's operations and assisting with tours and events. She believes she has gained many valuable skills including harnessing and driving draft horses, driving manual vehicles, making sausage, processing chickens, packaging customer orders, putting in fencing, weaning and rotating small ruminants, wrapping round bales, and stacking hay. Her advice to a student who is considering an internship is, "Be open to experiences far from home and be willing to try anything."

Congratulations, Eva!

Summer Internship Highlight!

Raylynn Adcock, member of the class of 2027, has been interning with Florida Dairy Farmers in Altamonte Springs, Florida!

As an Industry Relations Intern, she has been able to gain new perspectives on the dairy industry and the Florida Dairy Farmers Organization. Raylynn has been able to represent FDF at multiple trade shows and conferences including the Florida FFA State Convention and the National Holstein Association Convention. She enjoyed meeting with students, industry professionals, farmers, and stakeholders. She has also been able to work on organizing crisis communication plans and presentations like Dairy 101, a program for consumers who may not have a wide range of knowledge in this area of agriculture. Raylynn has also assisted with monthly e-newsletters, business development projects, and has been able to connect with farmers on visits to learn about their operations.

So far, her favorite part of this internship has been developing new connections and gaining in-depth knowledge about the dairy industry. She believes she has been able to enhance her professional communication skills and looks forward to applying them within her career after graduation. Her advice to a student who may be interested in a summer internship is, "Put yourself out there, ask questions, and take initiative with every opportunity you’re given."

Congratulations, Raylynn! 🎉