Senior, University of Wisconsin – River Falls
Genetic Management Systems (GMS) Intern with ABS
Based in Deforest, Wisconsin

Background
Q. What is your dairy background?
I grew up on my parents’ 50-cow registered Holstein dairy farm in north central Wisconsin. They helped me start my own herd at the age of five, and I have been building it up ever since.

I will be working on marketing materials for GMS, such as The Clipboard, a quarterly publication featuring articles about GMS, technical services and uddercare. I will be putting together some internal communication pieces for the GMS department and gathering GMS testimonials in California. I will also assist the GMS team on other various projects.

Q. What intrigues you most about the company or organization where you're interning?
I am intrigued by the magnitude of ABS Global and how many countries utilize their services. I am also impressed by all the different services that they offer to their customers.  

Q. What can you do to make a meaningful impact during your internship?
I hope to assist the GMS team where ever I can and be efficient and do the best I can with all the projects that I am given.

Q. What do you think will be the most challenging aspect of your internship duties?
This company is full of knowledgeable people and finding where I have to go to to get the information that I need to complete my projects is going to be a challenge.

Q. What do you hope to have learned by the end of your internship?
Seeing as how my internship deals a lot with the genetic side of the industry, I hope to have a better understanding of GMS works and how other countries are using it. I am very interested in the international side of things and would like to lean what other countries are breeding for and why.

I also hope to get a better understanding of what bloodlines are being used in Americas dairies and how GMS helps with inbreeding, which is becoming an increasing issue.

Future plans
Q. What do you hope to do after graduation?
I will graduate in the spring of 2013. I hope to get a job in the dairy industry that would involve the genetic side of the industry or public relations. I also plan on continuing the genetic progress of my own herd.

Q. Why do you want to remain a part of the dairy industry?
I would love to remain a part of the industry that has taught me so much and hope to make a positive impact with in it.  PD

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Click here to learn about Progressive Dairyman's internship program.