Applications are now open for the Angus/Talon Youth Educational Learning Program internship and host ranch opportunities, offering college-aged students valuable, hands-on experience in the Angus cattle industry. Host ranch applications are due October 31, and student intern applications are due November 12.
The Talon internship program allows students to spend their summer working on Angus operations, gaining practical ranching knowledge while building advocacy skills for the beef industry. “We are thankful for the vision of Cam Cooper in preparing the next generation of leaders for Angus and the cattle industry,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director.
The late Camron “Cam” Cooper of Talon Ranch in Twin Bridges, Montana, established the Angus/Talon Youth Educational Learning Program Endowment Fund in 2009 to provide a one-of-a-kind educational experience. “It’s exciting to watch our interns grow and flourish each year through the hands-on experiences and mentorship provided by their host ranches,” Boester added.
Eligible applicants include college sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students under the age of 25 majoring in an agricultural-related field. Former intern Bryan Farkas, who spent his summer at Audley Farm in Berryville, Virginia, said the experience pushed him beyond his comfort zone. “I go into big things like this kind of nervous, kind of anxious, a little bit scared,” Farkas said. “Just try and shake off the nervousness and just be optimistic, know you’re going to leave that place with a lot more than you came with.”
Farkas credited the Talon internship for boosting his confidence, building friendships, and teaching him lessons that extend beyond the classroom. His mentor, Turner Kobayashi, summed up the program’s impact: “Tell me and I forget; teach me and I may remember; involve me and I learn. That’s exactly what the Talon program is all about providing experience to these young people.”
Intern compensation is provided by the Angus Foundation through the Angus/Talon Youth Educational Learning Program Endowment Fund. Angus breeders and students can learn more and apply at www.angus.org/foundation/our-mission/youth/talon-youth or by contacting Boester at JBoester@Angus.org.
