CentralStar Cooperative, serving dairy and beef producers in the upper Midwest, will host seven interns, this year, in their genetics, laboratory, and research and development business units.
Five students will join the genetics and artificial-insemination (A.I.) team as A.I. Specialist Interns. Katelyn Sohrweide, Chilton, Wis., is a sophomore at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis., majoring in dairy science and life sciences communication with a certificate in agricultural business management. Her passion for agriculture comes from growing up on a small dairy farm in Chilton, Wis.
First-year student, Abbygail Foster, Juda, Wis., is studying animal science at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Fennimore, Wis. She was raised on a small dairy farm, and recently, she’s bred and raised her own herd of shorthorn beef cattle.
Audrey Tarochione is from a commercial beef and row-crop operation in west-central Illinois. She will complete undergraduate work in animal science and industry at Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., this spring and plans to pursue a graduate degree at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, in the fall. Tarochione is passionate about cattle and is interested in breeding and genetics, reproductive technologies, and commercial production.
Mondovi, Wis., native, Alan George, grew up on a small beef farm and raises his own herd. He was involved in 4-H, FFA, football, and wrestling while growing up and now attends West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas, majoring in agriculture business and economics.
Jenna Naber, Holland, Mich., is a junior at Michigan State University, Lansing, Mich., majoring in animal science with a concentration in dairy.
CentralStar’s Kaukauna, Wis., laboratory will be welcoming Brooke Zillges, this summer, as their laboratory intern. Zillges, a Winneconne, Wis., native, is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Platteville, Wis., studying agricultural business with a minor in dairy science.
The research and development business unit at CentralStar foresees and studies opportunities for helping dairy cattle be healthier and more productive. Last year’s intern, Evan Ma, will be returning to research and development for an encore contribution. Ma is from Dublin, Ohio, and is a junior at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, pursuing a bachelor’s in animal science with a minor in computer science. He does research in the field of molecular biology on various livestock species. As an officer of the Fish and Wildlife Society, he dedicates his efforts to conservation work. “I’m excited to be back interning at CentralStar,” Ma says, “I think we did some good work last summer, and I’m excited to continue doing the research.”
CentralStar’s goal of enhancing producer profitability through integrated services is fulfilled by incorporating an array of products and services critical to dairy-and-beef-farm prosperity. CentralStar’s product and service offerings include Accelerated Genetics, GenerVations and Select Sires genetics; extensive artificial-insemination (A.I.) technician service; genetic, reproduction, and dairy-records consultation; DHI services; diagnostic testing; herd-management products; research and development; and more. CentralStar’s administration and warehouse facilities are located in Lansing, Mich., and Waupun, Wis., with laboratories in Grand Ledge, Mich., and Kaukauna, Wis. The cooperative serves dairy and beef producers throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, with additional DHI territory in various surrounding states. For more information, visit CentralStar Cooperative Inc. at www.mycentralstar.com.