Experience
During students' six weeks of class, they have the opportunity to interact with key industry leaders in the classroom and feedyard in the areas of:
- Feedyard management
- Nutrition
- Animal health
- Economics
- Personnel management
Past classes have toured such facilities as ethanol plants, Cargill Corn Milling at Blair, Nebraska, various feedyards, and participated in the Nebraska Cattlemen's annual meeting. Students become Beef Quality Assurance certified and learn safe animal handling practices from industry leading experts as well.
The course is taught by Dr. Galen Erickson, UNL Feedyard Extension specialist, and Dr. James MacDonald, UNL Ruminant Nutrition professor. All are world renowned in their fields, and have gained national recognition for their feedyard research and the Timmerman Feedyard Management Internship.
Financial Compensation
During students' six weeks of class at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, they have the opportunity to work at the UNL Beef Research feedyard, and receive financial compensation for their work. This not only exposes them to a feedyard before arriving at their official internship feedyard, but also helps provide for their expenses during their time at UNL.
While students complete their five month internship at the feedyard, they are paid accordingly, and thus should treat the internship as a job.
Credits towards your degree
Because the internship program is an official UNL course, students can receive credits towards their Animal Science, Agribusiness, or related undergraduate degree, at no cost. UNL students are eligible for up to four credits; non-residents are eligible for up to two credits.
Free program
The course is free of cost to the student, it is uniquely funded and sponsored by the Nebraska Cattlemen.