This job is in our dairy lab. We run tests on all of the products we manufacture at this plant. Some of the tests, for example, would be checking butterfats, solids, pH’s, and different micro testing. It involves gathering and keeping samples used for testing in and organized manner as well as keeping paperwork involved in the different testing. The job would include everything needed to assist in keeping things running on a daily basis from organizing to testing to paperwork to cleaning to taste testing. We do run six days a week. Some students in the past were eager to work part time six days a week to earn as much as they could and others wanted to work only a few days a week. If someone wanted only a few days a week part time, we would possibly look at 2 individuals. In other words, we understand that we are dealing with students on a part time basis and will try and work with them to make things work. Prairie Farms in Quincy, and myself have been working with students in this way for over 30 years and each one has different circumstances to deal with. Don’t feel like this is only for students in a biology or chemistry field because students in any ag field of study or other fields could find this interesting and beneficial.

Benefits: We have worked with many students over the years. One of the obvious benefits is the student has the chance to earn some money to help with school expenses or whatever, but really it is much more than that. It gives them a chance to get in a work style environment and get a feel for what that is like. Learning how to work and deal with people on a daily basis is a life long lesson no matter what path you take. It gives them a feel for what goes on to keep a business going. Sometimes students might not realize what kind of jobs might be out there and something like this might give them a path they did not think about.