By Donna Rasmussen
Administrator
Since 2010, the Fillmore SWCD has been host to one or two summer interns each year. Beginning in 2012, those interns have been hired through the Conservation Corps Minnesota Conservation Apprenticeship program. Conservation apprentices serve alongside a natural resource professional in a Minnesota Soil and Water Conservation District learning hands-on skills in managing soil and water resources. The application period is currently open until March 3 for apprenticeships around Minnesota, including the Fillmore SWCD. Go to http://www.conservationcorps.org/americorps-opportunities/. Following are testimonials from two former interns with the SWCD sharing how their internship experience helped them in their careers.
Drew Bahl Preston native
My two summers spent as an intern at the Fillmore SWCD proved to be an overwhelmingly positive experience, not only for my career, but also for my personal development. My experience gave me a real-world understanding of what an environmental career might look like. It also reinforced my decision to major in environmental studies. Throughout my time with the SWCD, I gained very valuable skills and abilities pertaining to an environmental vocation.
My time with the SWCD provided a whole host of different work experience. I gained an understanding of public outreach, in the form of a forestry field day each summer. I became familiar with a database, and various forms of data entry. I also gained experience surveying waterways and collaborating with landowners. However, my most abundant experience at the SWCD pertained to water quality sampling. I was able to gain experience collecting various water quality samples, which were then tested for several different parameters. This really struck my interest and prepared me to pursue a career in something similar.
After graduating in May of 2015, I was employed within a few weeks at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). I was hired as a pollution control technician and have since been promoted to an environmental specialist 1. I feel my experience with the SWCD not only greatly improved my opportunity to be hired, but also assisted in providing me the aptitude to excel in the position after I was employed. I currently manage the MPCA’s Field Operations Center, where MPCA sampling equipment is housed. My current position has allowed me to work with diverse environmental sampling procedures, and has allowed me to continue some of my work with water quality. I really enjoy my current occupation, and I am very thankful for my past experience with the great people of the Fillmore SWCD!
Sarah Gossman Chatfield native
When I was in college I knew I was interested in the conservation and agriculture, but I was not really sure what that meant in terms of an actual career. Once I graduated and student loan payments began, I thought I better figure that out. My dad, a Fillmore SWCD board member, suggested I apply for an internship with the SWCD. I spent that summer getting to know the land in Fillmore County. As an intern, I worked with many of the SWCD staff and got an idea of what kind of positions were out there. Looking around the office, I could see myself working in a similar setting. I liked that the SWCD worked directly with landowners and producers. I liked that conservation was getting done. I liked that there was collaboration between agencies. I wanted to continue doing this type of work after the internship was over. I will admit that after the internship I spent four years in California volunteering with AmeriCorps and working for a small business development center. It turns out career paths are not always straight. I am now the Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Scott SWCD in Jordan, Minn. I like my work and am proud of what I do. My time with the Fillmore SWCD helped bring me here not only because of the experience I gained, but because it gave me insight into the direction in which I wanted to take my career.
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