Meet Our 2024 Interns
From scouting customers’ fields to serving employees to coordinating the movement of freight, you can find our 2024 interns scattered throughout our organization. We’re excited to gain their fresh perspectives this summer in agronomy, human resources and logistics. Help us in welcoming our intern class by getting to know a little bit about them!
What clubs and organizations are you involved in?
Oliver: I am involved in Agricultural Business Club and Iowa Corn.
Claire: Agronomy Club and Weight Club.
Emily: I am involved in the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Agronomy Club, Collegiate Cattlemen’s and Agricultural Business Club.
Sam: DMACC Ag Business Club and FFA.
Austin: Some clubs and organizations I am involved in are the Supply Chain Management Club and the Ski and Snowboard Club.
Savannah: I am involved in Student Senate (I was elected to be the Central College Student Body President for the ’24 to ’25 academic year), volunteering as an English teacher for ELL students each week at a nonprofit organization in Des Moines, A Cappella Choir on campus, and Wind Ensemble on campus.
What are your hobbies?
Oliver: Some of my hobbies are playing guitar, going to the gym and working on my truck.
Claire: I enjoy hanging out with friends, playing golf and traveling.
Emily: I spend most of my free time working with my dad on our family farm, washing show calves, lifting weights and going on drives with my friends.
Sam: I play the guitar and sing, so I stay pretty busy playing at bars and other venues during my free time. I also have some cattle I spend time with as well.
Austin: I enjoy various hobbies that allow me to unwind and connect with others. Golfing is a passion of mine; I enjoy the competitive part of the game and being able to hang out with friends. Skiing is another favorite pastime; it is something that I have been doing for a long time and hope to never stop doing.
Savannah: I like to read, be outdoors and spend time with my friends and family.
What inspired you to pursue a degree in agriculture, HR or logistics?
Oliver: Growing up I have always had a passion for agriculture. I am pursuing a degree in ag business because of the opportunities that arise from this great major at Iowa State.
Claire: I was inspired to get into agriculture by my FFA Advisor, Alyssa Amelon. I was an FFA soil judge, and that is where my curiosity for agriculture grew.
Emily: I grew up on a family farm and had the opportunity to be very involved with it. I realized I had a massive passion for the agriculture industry and knew it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Sam: Growing up on a farm had a big influence on me wanting to go into agriculture. Along with people I’ve met through FFA, it made me want to find ways to stay involved in the ag industry.
Austin: One of the things that inspired me the most to pursue a career in logistics was the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic started when I was a junior in high school, but it showed many people significant flaws in their supply chains. Once I got to college, I wanted to be able to be an asset to anyone that I worked for. This degree seemed the best for that.
Savannah: I am very interested in business and knew that is what I wanted to study in college. I was not sure exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to study business. Shortly after I started college, I realized that I definitely wanted to go into an area of business that allows me to work with people every day. I felt human resources was a perfect career choice for me because it involves business but also allows me to work with people every day.
What part of your internship are you most looking forward to?
Oliver: I’m looking forward to learning a lot about crops and what discrepancies or deficiencies may arise in the corn from insects or even fertilizers.
Claire: I am most looking forward to working with local farmers, learning more about the industry and putting my drone skills to use.
Emily: I look forward to the hands-on aspect and learning more about crops. I am also excited to know more about what to do if a problem arises and how to keep plants healthy.
Sam: Learning more about crops and how different companies work.
Austin: The part of the internship I am looking forward to the most is being able to understand all parts of the supply chain. By the end of the internship, I hope to understand which part I was most interested in. I am just learning about what it takes to be able to organize and run a supply chain effectively.
Savannah: I am looking forward to working with the new Paycor system, learning more about recruiting and getting to know people at Stutsman!
Who do you look up to most?
Oliver: I look up to my grandpa Scott Day the most because of how supportive he has been to me along my college journey.
Claire: I look up most to my mom. I admire her for her exceptional work ethic and drive. She has an infectious humor, and she approaches her work with passion and dedication. She has set a great example for me growing up, and I hope to emulate that in my life.
Emily: I look up to my dad the most because he is why I am so involved with agriculture. He always let me be a part of the farm; sometimes, it was as small as picking up food for the planting/harvest crew. Other times, I was able to be a part of the crew by doing tillage or running the grain cart. He helped teach me my independence and work ethic from a young age. He always pushed me to be the best me I could be.
Sam: My ag teacher, Mrs. Bridget Mahoney. During high school, she was always someone we could go and talk to whenever we had a problem. She also tried her best to help us out with whatever we were doing, whether it was for a contest or for our Iowa FFA Degree. I never looked forward to going to school, but I always looked forward to going to her classes as there was never a dull moment in her room.
Austin: The person that I look up to the most is my grandpa. He has always been a super hard worker, and when times are tough, he can put a smile on anyone’s face.
Savannah: I look up to my grandma because she is the kindest person I know. I aspire to be like her.
What would you like to do when you graduate?
Oliver: When I graduate, I would love to pursue a career in grain merchandising and show off my expertise in grain markets.
Claire: While I’m still exploring my interests, one of the aspects I am most drawn to about the agriculture industry is the diverse range of opportunities. I have a genuine passion for working alongside farmers and engaging with people, which is why roles in sales or research interest me the most.
Emily: I want to become an in-field agronomist and possibly return to school to earn my doctorate.
Sam: I hope to be an ag education teacher and an FFA advisor.
Austin: After graduation, I am unsure if I would like to find a job right away or continue to get my master’s degree.
Savannah: I would like to go into human resources. More specifically, I would like to go into recruiting!
What Stutsman Core Value means the most to you?
Oliver: The core value that means most to me is instill authenticity, because I believe everyone should take pride in their work. I believe everyone should be honest, and everyone should be proud of what they can bring to the table no matter what their profession is.
Claire: Radiate enthusiasm is my favorite core value of Stutsmans. I want to bring a good attitude into the workplace, and I am excited to learn and see what I can do in this new position.
Emily: The core value that means the most to me is to set the bar higher. I would choose this one because I always hold myself to a high standard to be the best I can be. I must hold myself to higher standards to ensure that the work I am doing for someone else is as good or better than the way I would do it for myself. It is important because if everyone has that mindset, there are no limits on what can be accomplished.
Sam: Radiate enthusiasm. I think having a good attitude is very important all the time. Even though it can be difficult to have one sometimes, being with others who have a good attitude can always help yours and others.
Austin: The core value that means the most to me is take the lead. By instilling this in everyone in the company, no matter the position, anyone can be a leader. Also, to be able to be a leader, you need to have the ability to be led.
Savannah: I think radiate enthusiasm stands out the most to me because it really emphasizes the importance of having a positive attitude. It is true that attitudes are contagious, and I feel it is essential to have a positive attitude in order to make work enjoyable!
