Sell yourself; Sell the product

It has been over a month since I started my internship with Bayer Crop Science. Since then I have seen more of the state of Illinois than my own back yard, I have ventured out to Raleigh, NC and I have been calf high in mud learning in the field.
  

Bayer Crop Science at Research Triangle Park
in Raleigh, North Carolina

My weeks consist of a lot of driving and meeting with retailers. More importantly, I gather data for field test plots with a product called Stratego YLD. This is a fungicide that helps with test weight and ant for corn at harvest time. My photography skills have been put to work with recording pictures of each field I am in. With all of the rain it has been more difficult to have plots put out at the right time. On corn the cut off to apply Stratego YLD is V5 and the rain made it too wet to get in the field for most growers.

I will be working on gathering information for a tent to be set up for Bayer Crop Science at the Farm Progress show in Decatur, IL. 

I am enjoying the growers and retailers that I have had the opportunity to meet. I met Dr. Powell with Growmark agronomy on a crop injury issue. I've learned more this summer then I would have ever dreamed of. 

I've been working on selling myself to the people I meet daily. Building relationships and putting my best foot forward are the two most important aspects of my job. I am confident that I can successfully accomplish every goal I have for this summer.

Transitioning to Extension

Hello!  I'm Molly Novotney, a junior majoring in Agricultural Leadership Education.  I'm a transfer to the U of I from Joliet Junior College, and my internship this summer is with University of Illinois Extension in LaSalle, Bureau, Marshall, and Putnam Counties.  I'm an intern in 4-H and Youth Development, and I'm very excited to see where this summer takes me.

My project for this summer is to plan, create, facilitate, and evaluate a youth education pilot program.   The pilot program, titled "Growing Futures in Agriculture," will teach 4-H youth, grades 6th-8th, about careers and jobs in agriculture, which will be taught by teen FFA members from local chapters.  This program will serve two purposes, as it will teach and develop 4-H youth more about the field of agriculture, as well as create a better bond between 4-H and FFA.

This has been a very interesting transition for me.  I have spent the last two years during the school year working part-time for my high school Ag teachers and FFA Advisors, and during the summers, I was a crop scout.  To go from jeans, boots, and no make up to khakis being my "dressing down" in the office is a bit of a culture shock.  However, it is a welcome change, and I'm enjoying my time so far!

I'm looking forward to what the summer will bring!