Guymon, Okla. (Jan. 10, 2022) —Last week, 22 students from 16 different
colleges experienced Seaboard Foods’ annual Winternship. The Winternship
provides an opportunity for students to explore the inner workings of a
connected pork production company, network with subject matter experts,
better define career paths and gain exposure and education about how pork is
produced.
“Many college students don’t always know what they want to do when they
graduate or are not aware of the many career paths a large agribusiness
company has to offer. The Winternship provides an eye-opening experience
to help students learn about the pork industry and see many potential career
opportunities,” says Alaina Sill, talent acquisition and recruiting manager at
Seaboard Foods.
Seaboard Foods’ Winternship started in 2010, and since its beginnings, 235
students have experienced this unique educational opportunity. Students
complement their formal education with a real-life look at the pork industry
through tours and presentations, connect with professionals and subject
matter experts, and better define their career goals through a real-life look at
career paths. Through a first-hand look at the integrated pork business,
Winterns became knowledgeable consumers that understand how pork is
produced and are better equipped to advocate for the agriculture industry.
“We started the Winternship to provide a very transparent look at how pork is
produced and the many opportunities our sector of agriculture has to offer,”
says Craig Maloney, senior director of operational support at Seaboard
Foods. “As an industry, we have a responsibility to expose young people to
what we do, getting them excited about how the pork they eat is produced and
showing them that we are innovative, business savvy, and have many great
opportunities for fulfilling careers.”
With future generations having less exposure to agriculture, farming, and rural
life than those before them, experiential opportunities like the Seaboard
Foods’ Winternship are more important than ever before. Due to Seaboard
Foods’ unique integrated business, the Winternship can highlight many
different sectors, all at one company. Students learn about all of the
company’s departments that help produce high-quality pork, from operations
of farms, feed mills, and a pork processing plant, to transportation,
environmental resource management, food safety, supply chain, finance,
human resources, marketing, sales, and more.
“Our Winternship experience shows students how pork is produced from
beginning to end. Education and exposure like the Winternship is key to
building future leaders and advocates for our industry” says Rick Sappington,
plant vice president and general manager for Seaboard Foods.
