GROWMARK names 2010 summer interns
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — In the 51st year of the program, 54 college students are exploring career opportunities as GROWMARK summer interns. They are working at FS cooperatives in Illinois, Iowa, and Ontario; at GROWMARK FS, LLC and Seedway, LLC; and at the GROWMARK corporate office in Bloomington, Ill. and the Ontario Region office in Kitchener, Ont.

The interns are exposed to accounting, marketing, research, communications, and product and service-related activities.
The interns come to GROWMARK from:

Coe College – Kyle Herink, son of Kevin and Tammy Herink of Clutier, Iowa, is majoring in mathematics and political science and working at New Century FS. From Drake University – Jennifer Ziel, daughter of Eric and Carol Ziel of Boone, Iowa, is majoring in actuarial science/finance and working in the Safety and Insurance Services Division of GROWMARK. From Illinois State University – Kristin Bitter, daughter of Mike and Janis Bitter of Litchfield, Ill., is majoring in agriculture business and working at M & M Service Company; Rebecca Borkgren, daughter of Randy and Terri Borkgren of Cambridge, Ill., is majoring in marketing and working in the Energy Division of GROWMARK; Lee Eichelberger, son of Bob and Tammy Eichelberger of Clinton, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness and agronomy and working in the Seed Division of GROWMARK; Charles Mueller, son of Chuck and Margaret Mueller of Schaumburg, Ill., is majoring in accounting and finance and working for Conserv FS, Inc.; David Noord, son of Larry and Julie Noord of Prophetstown, Ill., is majoring in agronomy industry management and working at Ag View FS, Inc.; Kaylin Stoddard, daughter of Bruce and Carolyn Stoddard of Monticello, Ill., is majoring in accountancy and working at Evergreen FS, Inc.

From Iowa State University – Randy Evans, son of Richard Evans of New Hampton, Iowa and Lashelle Evans of Decorah, Iowa, is majoring in agricultural studies and is working at AgVantage FS; Tyler Knudsen,  son of Dave and Marsha Knudsen of Oskaloosa, Iowa, is majoring in agricultural systems technology and working at New Century FS; Seth Moser, son of Joel and Marilyn Moser of Alvord, Iowa, is majoring in agriculture business and working at MID-CO COMMODITIES, INC; Brad Schulte, son of Dave and Cindy Schulte of State Center, Iowa, is majoring in agriculture studies and working at New Century FS. From Murray State University – Jordan Timberlake, daughter of Ed and Dolores Timberlake of Mt. Carmel, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness and working at Wabash Valley Service Company. From Southern Illinois University-Carbondale – Keith Gingerich, son of Steve and Karen Gingerich of Sullivan, Ill., is majoring  in agricultural systems technology and working at Effingham-Clay Service Company; Shelby Glover, daughter of Duane and Carol Glover of Albion, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness economics and working at Total Grain Marketing, LLC; Heather Milliman, daughter of Nick and Jody Milliman of Newton, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness economics and working at Effingham-Clay Service Company; Derek Weiler, son of Bill and Debbie Weiler of Claremont, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness economics and working at Wabash Valley Service Company.

From University of Illinois – Cassie Becker, daughter of Steve and Amy Becker of Carlyle, Ill., is majoring in agricultural communications and working in the Corporate Communications and Marketing Services Division of GROWMARK; Lauren Boman, daughter of Terry and Beth Boman of Loda, Ill., is majoring in agricultural consumer economics and working at Heritage FS, Inc.; David Didier, son of Dave and Donna Didier of Indian Creek, Ill., is majoring in technical systems management and working at Conserv FS, Inc; Daniel Guth, son of Tom and Lori Guth of Hudson, Ill., is majoring in agribusiness and working at Evergreen FS, Inc.; Carrie Kuhns, daughter of Ervin and Nancy Kuhns of Sullivan, Ill., is majoring in agricultural leadership education and working in the Human Resources Division of GROWMARK; Jeff Lambert, son of Mike and Kathy Lambert of Kankakee, Ill., is majoring in agricultural and biological engineering and working in the Facility Planning and Supply Division of GROWMARK; Ryan Probst, son of Kent and Julie Probst of Wheeler, Ill., is majoring in crop science and working at Wabash Valley Service Company; Chelsi Rhodes, daughter of Lonnie and Kristy Rhodes of Thomasboro, Ill., is majoring in agricultural accounting and working at Illini FS; Robin Rollings, daughter of Charles and Sandra Rollings of Ashmore, Ill., and Bruce and Tammy Trefz of Paris, Ill., is majoring in crop science and working at Illini FS.; From the University of Northern Iowa; Phillip Eichenberger, son of John and Dawn Eichenberger of Lawler, Iowa, is majoring in accounting/finance and working at AgVantage FS.

From the Western Illinois University – Chris Brooks, son of Dennis and Jackie Brooks of Geneseo, Ill., is majoring in agriculture science and working at Gold Star FS, Inc; Ross Fogle, son of David and Leanne Fogle of Congerville, Ill., is majoring in agronomy and working in the Seed Division of GROWMARK; Jason Kidd, son of Tom and Chris Kidd of Annawan, Ill., is majoring in agriculture business and working at Ag View FS, Inc.; Jeremy Skien, son of Jack and Laurie Skien of Marietta, Ill., is majoring in agronomy and working at Fulton FS, Inc.; Rusty Thomas, son of Trish Meyer of Forest City, Ill., is majoring in agriculture business and working at Sunrise Ag Service Company.

“This year’s intern group is the largest to date, and very diverse,” said Steve German, GROWMARK university relations and member employment manager. “The interns come from the Midwest, the East Coast and Ontario, Canada. They represent a range of career interests as well – agronomy, seed, communications, logistics, structures, accounting, turf, precision farming, marketing, human resources, energy, general counsel, insurance services, commodities, quality assurance, and grain.”

The GROWMARK intern program began in 1959 with three interns. Since then, 739 students have been involved in the program.
Ft. Recovery FFA agricultural engineering team earns banner
FT. RECOVERY, Ohio — The Ft. Recovery FFA Agricultural Engineering Team recently placed 3rd in the state at the 82nd State FFA Convention, which was held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. The agricultural engineering team had to complete an extensive exam on the agricultural industry that included welding, mechanics, hydraulics, construction, electricity, mechanical power, concrete and environmental safety.

Ft. Recovery FFA agricultural engineering team earns banner
FT. RECOVERY, Ohio — The Ft. Recovery FFA Agricultural Engineering Team recently placed 3rd in the state at the 82nd State FFA Convention, which was held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. The agricultural engineering team had to complete an extensive exam on the agricultural industry that included welding, mechanics, hydraulics, construction, electricity, mechanical power, concrete and environmental safety.

The agricultural engineering team members were Nathan Fortkamp, Craig Fullenkamp, Zach Guggenbiller, Dustin Homan, Cody Kaiser, Kyle Schmitz, Aaron Sutter and Alan Vogel. Nathan Fortkamp, son of Paul and Ginny, placed 2nd.