CentralStar Cooperative, which supports dairy and beef producers across the upper Midwest and surrounding states, is now accepting applications for its paid summer 2026 internships. These opportunities give college students hands-on experience in fields such as cattle artificial insemination (A.I.), milk-sample testing, and agricultural research. Applications are due Oct. 31, 2025, and can be submitted at https://mycentralstar.com/careers/.
Internships are available in both Wisconsin and Michigan. Students interested in reproduction and herd health can apply for an A.I. Specialist Intern role. Interns in this program work directly with cattle, providing heat detection and A.I. services that help farmers reach their herd-improvement goals. “My internship with CentralStar this summer was focused on working with A.I. Specialists to fulfill farmers’ goals for the future of their herds,” shared 2025 A.I. Specialist Intern Brooklyn Schwoerer. “These goals included milk production, type, longevity, and mobility. This allowed me to connect and share my knowledge with farmers about different bulls that fit their herds. A highlight of my internship was visiting small dairy farms and talking cow families or discussing how their operations run.”
For those more interested in laboratory science, CentralStar offers milk-analysis-technician internships at its facilities in Kaukauna, Wis., and Grand Ledge, Mich. Interns in these positions analyze milk samples and report results related to components and diagnostics for both dairy and beef cattle. “On a day-to-day basis, I completed tasks like running the line to test milk and working in the shipping department,” said 2024 Kaukauna-facility intern, Brooke Zillges. “I had the opportunity to go out on a few farms to learn how to collect milk samples, too.”
In addition, a research and development internship is available at CentralStar’s Lansing, Mich., laboratory. This role supports projects ranging from biomarker discovery to testing new diagnostic tools. Interns gain exposure to molecular and immunological techniques while collaborating with scientists, veterinarians, and producers.
“Internships provide a unique chance to apply classroom knowledge in real-world situations, strengthen résumés, and build professional connections,” said Recruiting and Hiring Manager Corinn Harmeyer. “We’re proud to mentor students and give them experiences that will benefit their future careers.”
CentralStar’s mission of enhancing producer profitability through integrated solutions for mutual success 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.