Holly Borleske
Major: Horticulture
Position Title: Production Intern
Employer: Bushel Boy Farms
I interned at Bushel Boy Farms in Owatonna, MN. I was there for the summer of 2011 and it lasted 12 weeks. I wanted an internship in fruit or vegetable production. I talked with my faculty coordinator and she told me about Bushel Boy Farms, which is a Hydroponic Tomato Company. I was interested so I sent them my resume. A few weeks later I was packing my bags and moving to another state.
My internship involved working with each part of the company to learn how a Hydroponic Company runs. I did everything from pruning, deleafing, clipping, mixing fertilizer, making phone calls to obtain tomato orders, picking and packing tomatoes, managing a small group of people, and even riding on a tuck to see how the tomatoes reach the consumer. Not only did this internship give me the inside scoop on how an operation like this runs, but it also gave me the benefit of getting to know people in the industry.
What I enjoyed most was the hands-on education I received. It wasn’t just an opportunity to make money, it allowed me to gain valuable insight that I could not have learned in the classroom.
My advice for anyone thinking about interning is to do it. These experiences are a lot of fun and extremely beneficial. I would also say don’t be afraid to go to another state. It’s a great way to meet new people.