The Nile Stock Show and Rodeo is now accepting applications for internships for the annual fall stock show. College students can gain a once in a lifetime opportunity that will let them experience working a stock show and rodeo.
Jennifer Boka, NILE general manager, said they receive roughly 40 to 50 applications for the internship mainly because it means two weeks of complete immersion in a stock show setting.
“We give our interns the opportunity to work in everything from in the trenches of our horse events to legitimately picking manure out of the show cattle rings. Interns can be on a radio interview or doing a TV commercial with us regarding some sort of topic. And we try to give them the full stock show event experience right down to the nitty-gritty and I think it’s kind of a rare opportunity for them to work all sides of the event,” Boka said.
She added it’s a unique opportunity as other stock shows provide internships that often focus on a specific area.
“So if you sign on to be a horse intern at a stock show, you know you might be literally with the ranch horse versatility show the entire week. Where at NILE you get assigned departmentally, but there is lots of different activities amongst all our departments for those kids to get involved. The knowledge the hands-on experience is vast very different than anywhere else. And of course, definitely a resume builder.”
Boka also mentioned that many NILE interns work with their academic institutions to gain college credits with the internship. Applications can be found here.
In trade news, significant work remains in talks with China.
President Trump has indicated a deal could be reached in the next four weeks, but the two sides offered little details regarding last week’s meetings.
The most recent negotiations included intellectual property, forced technology transfer, non-tariff barriers, agriculture, and more.
As U.S. agriculture is impatiently waiting for the results, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has previously said the negotiations could conclude with a doubling or tripling of U.S. ag exports to China.
In the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly progress report for Montana, conditions are beginning to warm up, but wet fields and continued precipitation is hindering fieldwork.
Topsoil moisture conditions for the state were 94 percent adequate to surplus, above last year’s 89 percent. With it still too wet to plant for most of the state and the nation in fact.
The question is, ‘How will this impact spring wheat planting and prices in the coming weeks?’
As for winter wheat, 30% of this years crop is breaking dormancy compared to 10% last week. Winter wheat ratings remain at 13% excellent, 57% good, 23% fair and just 7% poor to very poor.
The 2017 Census of Agriculture, set to be published by USDA on Thursday, will reflect a major demographic change from the last census.
Farmers and ranchers filling out the recent surveys were able to list multiple “principal producers” who are equally involved in making business decisions, instead of just one.
The change means the latest iteration will better capture the roles of all people involved in agriculture and could see increase in women in the industry.
The 2017 census also will include new data on how much money farmers earned from direct marketing and value-added products.
-Reported by Lane Nordlund/MTN News
