JRA Intern Placement Program
RED ANGUS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
INTERN PLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR JUNIOR MEMBERS
Utilize this JRA program to gain valuable farm/ranch experience during the summer; fall or spring semester. This program is designed to assist junior members in obtaining an internship with Red Angus breeders across the country. Whether you are searching for an internship to fulfill a college requirement or simply want a summer job that helps build new skills, offers new experiences and a chance to work in a different part of the country – apply to the Intern Placement Program.
Many Red Angus breeders have expressed their preference to host interns during the fall or spring – to provide the best learning environment with a wider variety of opportunities on an operation. So, even if you are not seeking an internship for college, you may consider taking time in the fall or spring to become involved in an internship.
The application includes a section in which you may list preferences for specific locales in the United States or specific Red Angus operations for which you would like to intern. No guarantee is made of securing choices but effort will be made to match preferences. If first choices are not attained, placement for second, third…choices will be pursued. If no preferences are listed on the application, effort will be made to match the areas of interest of the applicant to an appropriate Red Angus operation for the internship.
Once an operation notifies the Junior Programs Coordinator of acceptance of an applicant for an Intern Placement, the communications to confirm details of the internship are between the intern applicant and the potential employer. Phone and or personal interviews are encouraged; discussions on compensation, housing, transportation, insurance, expectations from each party, date of beginning and ending internship, days off… are between the employer and employee. JRA/RAAA have no role in negotiating actual work experience details.
There are no set guidelines for employers on housing or compensation - each situation is unique. Past JRA interns have lived with families, in bunkhouses and even apartments in town near a ranch. Past interns have been paid hourly, weekly, a flat rate for the time of the internship and on a bonus basis.
Interns have flown to locations and been provided a vehicle; have driven themselves, or have been taken to a location by family and remained on the ranch or operation for the entire internship. If an intern is expected to travel during employment, financial responsibilities for the travel should be discussed prior to beginning the internship. Also, any specific equipment or clothing requirements should be discussed ahead of time. The JRA/RAAA simply requests that employers treat junior interns fairly and realize that it is a learning experience and that juniors realize they have an internship for learning and personal growth, not necessarily focusing on financial gain.
JRA members who are placed through the Intern Placement Program are expected to submit a written summary of their experience and photos from the internship to the Junior Programs Director within one month of the internship completion date. Summaries and photos will be published in the Red Generation and Have You Herd newsletters and are used in the Year In Review presentation given by the JRA Board at the RAAA National Convention each year.
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
February 1 of the year you wish to work: deadline for summer employment application. Placement established by May 1.
March 1 of year you wish to work: deadline for fall semester internship application. Placement established by August 1.
May 1 of year prior to the spring you want to work: deadline for spring semester application. Placement established by October 1.
Completed Internship Placement Program application, along with three letters of reference, should be sent to: Dawn Bernhard, Junior Programs Coordinator, Red Angus Association of America, 2003 190th St., Algona, IA 50511; e-mail to: dawn@redangus.org; fax to: 940/383-4036