My Grain Elevator Experience

If I told you I was interning for Cargill at a grain elevator, what would you think I did on an average day? Would you think I worked on conveyor belts and cleaned out boot pits? Would you think I greased the rollers? Actually, I haven't done any of those things yet, but reading this post will show you some things I have done up to this point.

During my first few weeks at Cargill, I have: flown a drone, swept pits after trucks dump their load, learned to drive a bobcat to clean up spilled grain, grading trucks, helping clean out a bin, and so much more.

One of my favorite experiences up to this point was helping load a barge. Being from Central Illinois, I had only seen barges as I was crossing over the Mississippi River. When I actually stood by the barge, I couldn't believe how large it actually was. The barge we are loading in the picture above was a rake barge and held almost 65,000 bushels of beans. To put this in reference of semi trucks, that would be 65 loads! As I stood there watching line boats pass, I realized how vital the Mississippi River was to the transport of goods. 

Working in West Memphis, AR has been an adjustment for me coming from living in a town of 1,300 people. While I work in Arkansas, I live in Memphis, TN. Moving to a large city from my rural small town was scary, but it made me grow as a person. Even though I reside in the city I pass rice fields, cows, and horses on my way to and from work.
  

The picture of the elevator was taken with the drone at work. My boss has a project scheduled for me with the drone if I have enough time. In the future weeks, I have a lot of traveling ahead of me! Sam, my boss, would like me to travel to the facilities in Hickman, KY and East Saint Louis, IL. I also have an intern forum in Minneapolis, MN at the end of June. The last adventure will be traveling to the facility in Tuscola, IL to help load rails cars.