Meet the 2019 Internship Class
This time of year has a way of bringing a much-needed refresh; a new crop season, warmer temperatures, and for us, a new group of college students in our internship program. While the interns are benefiting from the professional development our program provides, we are just as excited about the ideas, perspective, and passion they bring to the table. The class of 2019 can be found this summer serving our agronomy customers through scouting and operational services. If you catch them out and about, give them a wave or stop and say hello! Learn more about the 2019 interns below:
Jake Weldon | Operations Intern
Hometown: Parnell, IA
College/ University: Kirkwood Community College.
Major/ Minors: Agriculture Business.
What clubs and organizations are you involved in?: Ag Business Club.
What are your hobbies? Hunting, fishing, riding four-wheelers, and socializing.
What inspired you to pursue an agricultural degree? My past experiences working for farmers.
What part of this summer/internship are you most excited about? Meeting new people and talking with customers.
What made Stutsmans stand out to you? The size of the company.
If you could switch places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? John Wayne, because he always gets back up when he is knocked down.
You’re a new addition to a farm; what tool/ machinery/ technology/ product would you be and why? A tractor because they get used the most.
What do you want to do when you graduate? Drive a flat top 389 Peterbilt with a basset hound named Wayne.
Cavin Malloy | Agronomy Intern
Hometown: Holbrook, IA
College/ University: Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC).
Major/ Minors: Agribusiness.
What clubs and organizations are you involved in? I am the quarterback on an intramural flag football team. Our team holds a school record!
What are your hobbies? Work.
What inspired you to pursue an agricultural degree? I grew up on a farm.
What part of this summer/internship are you most excited about? Having an enjoyable work experience.
What made Stutsmans stand out to you? My family has done business with Stutsman for years!
If you could switch places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? Patrick Mahomes; go Chiefs!!
You’re a new addition to a farm; what tool/ machinery/ technology/ product would you be and why? Bolt cutters. I am pretty good at breaking stuff (in general).
What do you want to do when you graduate? My hopes are that in the next 3-5 years my professional bull riding career takes off. If not, I would like to pursue a career in the agronomy sector of the agriculture industry.
Tommy Pretz | Agronomy Intern
Hometown: Columbus Junction, IA
College/University: Iowa State University.
Major/Minors: Animal science with an undeclared agronomy minor.
What clubs and organizations are you involved in? Block and Bridle-Beef Interest Group & Swine Interest Group, and the Swine Advocates Club.
What are your hobbies? Showing pigs and cattle, raising show cattle, hunting, fishing, playing sports, and playing the saxophone.
What inspired you to pursue an agricultural degree? Agriculture is something I have been around since day one. I grew up raising beef cattle and showing swine. I developed a passion for making healthier and safer food for future generations. Our world revolves around the agricultural industry and I want to be a part of it.
What part of this summer/internship are you most excited about? This summer, I am most excited to learn about the crop side of the agriculture industry and what there is to offer outside of the market animal world. I am also excited to meet new people and form connections through networking.
What made Stutsman’s stand out to you? Stutsman’s stood out to me because of how diverse the company is. I believe it has many different opportunities to offer and I think that is important in an internship. It will provide me with tons of new knowledge and will allow me to continually learn new things.
If you could switch places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? If I could switch places with anyone for a day I would pick George Strait. I think it would be awesome to just sing one concert as the king of country. Let’s just hope that we switch voices too.
You’re a new addition to a farm; what tool/ machinery/ technology/ product would you be and why? If I was a new addition to a farm, I would be a drone. This would allow me to see the landscape from a different view and perspective. It would also allow me to see what pieces of land would need improvement faster and go where people wouldn’t be able to easily walk or take machinery.
What do you want to do when you graduate? Following graduation, I would like to obtain a career within the agriculture industry focusing on market swine production or in feed sales. I would also like to run a small cow-calf operation.
Nathan Parchert | Agronomy Intern
Hometown: Illinois City, IL
College/University: Iowa State University.
Major/Minors: Agricultural business.
What clubs and organizations are you involved in? Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, Ag Business Club, Farm Operations Club, and Swine Production Advocates Club.
What are your hobbies? Operating my show pig operation at home, fishing, spending time outdoors and being on the farm as much as I can.
What inspired you to pursue an agricultural degree? The agricultural industry is a big part of who I am, and someday I hope to be a big part of it as well.
What part of this summer/internship are you most excited about? The biggest thing that I am excited about is getting to network with a potential future employer. I also look forward to developing new skills that will help me become a valuable candidate to an employer.
What made Stutsman’s stand out to you? Prior to having Stutsman on my internship search, I worked at a local feed store back home. I was familiar with the great reputation and types of goods/services the company has to offer. The company is a tight-knit group and once I saw the opportunities the company has for freshman, it was at the top of my internship list.
If you could switch places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? If I could switch places with anyone for a day, I would choose to switch with my dad. He has been very successful with his work in the ag industry and I would love to experience what he does during a day at work. I would enjoy looking back at his accomplishments and watch how he got to where he is today from his perspective.
You’re a new addition to a farm; what tool/ machinery/ technology/ product would you be and why? I believe I would be a combine. Combines need to be dependable and something you can trust when you need them the most. They are essential to a row crop operation. My personal goal is to reflect these same traits.
What do you want to do when you graduate? Upon graduation, I would like to become a district sales rep in the agricultural industry and continue my family farm in Taylor Ridge, Illinois.
Jacob Hall | Agronomy Intern
Hometown: Washington, IA
College/ University: Iowa State University.
Major/ Minors: Agricultural business.
What clubs and organizations are you involved in? I am involved in the Agricultural Business Club.
What are your hobbies? My hobbies include hunting, hanging out with friends, and showing pigs.
What inspired you to pursue an agricultural degree? I chose to pursue a degree in agriculture because it has the biggest impact on my life. I have grown up in the industry and have loved being a part of it. I couldn’t have chosen a better route.
What part of this summer/internship are you most excited about? I am excited to be gaining more knowledge in the agriculture field and building new relationships while working at Stutsman’s.
What made Stutsman’s stand out to you? Stutsman’s has stood out to me since I was a kid. Growing up only twenty-five minutes from Hills, I was able to see the business grow from the outside. When I saw the business expanding, I knew I wanted to be on the inside helping it expand and furthering its opportunity.
If you could switch places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? If I could switch places with anyone for a day it would be Jack Black. I don’t fully know why but I think he is hilarious. He has a lot going for him!
You’re a new addition to a farm; what tool/ machinery/ technology/ product would you be and why? If I was a new addition to a farm, I would be a planter. A planter is essential to a farm because it is part of the beginning process to a successful crop. One of my goals is to plant a pathway for success while I am still young and in college.
What do you want to do when you graduate? When I graduate from Iowa State University I want to become a sales representative.
Allyn Francis | Agronomy Intern
Hometown: Williamsburg, IA
College/ University: Iowa State University.
Major/ Minors: Agronomy with an intramural sports minor.
What clubs and organizations are you involved in? Student Admissions Representative and I’m a St. Thomas Aquinas small group leader.
What are your hobbies? Watching/yelling at my favorite sports teams, playing sports, watching movies, and hanging with my friends.
What inspired you to pursue an agricultural degree? My freshman year I took a couple of agronomy classes and loved them, so I switched over and have really enjoyed the classes and my internship last summer.
What part of this summer/internship are you most excited about? Working and getting to know the company; as well as just being out in the fields!
What made Stutsman’s stand out to you? Stutsman is an ideal company I would want to work for after graduation, so I wanted to get an internship before I graduated to really experience the company.
If you could switch places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? I would switch places with a zookeeper because I love zoos and I think it would be awesome to be a zookeeper for a day.
You’re a new addition to a farm; what tool/ machinery/ technology/ product would you be and why? I would be something to do with precision ag because I find it very interesting.
What do you want to do when you graduate? Work as a full-time agronomist for a company or continue on to graduate school.