PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis. — Badgerland Financial has welcomed eleven students as part of its summer internship program, providing each student with an opportunity to further prepare for a career in agriculture while pursuing his or her education. This year’s summer interns include: Sarah Beisbier, Reedsburg; Anna Benzine, Fall River; Elliot Dederich, Sauk City; Katie Engevold, Osseo; Logan Gutenberger, Westby; Cody Jump, Richland Center; Erin Marchant, Brodhead; Turner Moen, Lake Mills; Ashlin O’Brien, Fond Du Lac; Lindsey Sarbacker, Stoughton; Keelyn Swanson, Byron; and Jessica Tharp, Waverly.
“Our intern program is a great opportunity to introduce top-notch students to Farm Credit, while exposing them to the diverse agricultural clientele we serve in rural Wisconsin,” says Diane Cole, CEO of Badgerland Financial. “Many of our past interns have gone on to great careers in agriculture, including some who have joined our staff permanently.”
Badgerland Financial hires interns in several of its departments, giving students from varied backgrounds the opportunity to explore career opportunities in lending, crop insurance, tax, marketing and information technology. All eleven interns are given the opportunity to visit customers’ farms, giving them a first-hand opportunity to learn more about the continuing need for credit and related services in today’s agricultural industry.
Following is a brief bio on each intern:
Sarah Beisbier, a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is a marketing intern at the Prairie Du Sac office. She is pursuing a degree in Public Relations and Marketing and is involved in Public Relations Student Society of America and Alpha Sigma Sorority on campus. Sarah is excited to gain experience in ag business and learn more about managing relationships between a company and its stakeholders. Sarah grew up in Reedsburg, Wisconsin where she was active in 4-H and the Wisconsin Junior Shorthorn Association, showing beef cattle.
Anna Benzine, is an accounting major at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and is a tax and accounting intern at the Sun Prairie office. Anna will be a senior in the fall and is actively involved in Beta Alpha Psi and Future Business Leaders of America on campus. She grew up in Fall River, Wisconsin and became interested in agriculture by visiting her grandparent’s farm. This summer, Anna would like to learn about the multiple accounting software systems and challenge herself on different projects such as working on IRS tax audits. She is also looking forward to expanding her professional network and gaining experience in her career field.
Elliot Dederich, is a senior studying Business Administration-Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He is an information technology intern at the Prairie Du Sac office and looks forward to expanding his knowledge about business analytics and project management skills. Elliot is from Sauk City, Wisconsin and enjoys bow hunting, fishing and baseball in his free time.
Katie Engevold, is pursuing an Agribusiness major with a minor in Soil and Crop Science. She is a crop insurance intern based in Johnson Creek. Through Katie’s responsibilities, she hopes to learn more about the finance aspects within crop insurance. Katie is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and is involved in Sigma Alpha Sorority, Collegiate FFA, Ag Business Club and Platteville Swing Dance Club. Katie is from Osseo, Wisconsin and grew up on her family’s hobby farm, raising Angus and Hereford calves.
Logan Gutenberger, is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and serves as a credit intern at the Sparta office. Logan is studying Agricultural Business Management and is involved in Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, Collegiate Farm Bureau, Badger Dairy Club, Renk Scholars and Agricultural Business Management Club on campus. Over the summer, Logan hopes to gain more knowledge and experience within a financial institution and explore a potential career as a loan officer. Logan is from Westby, Wisconsin and found a passion of showing dairy cattle through 4-H at a young age.
Cody Jump, an accounting major at Madison College, is a tax and accounting intern at the Sun Prairie office. Cody is from Richland Center, Wisconsin and grew up on his family’s dairy farm of seventy-five Jersey cows. While assisting accounting specialists with summer projects, Cody would like to learn the skills needed to become a successful accountant. When he is not working this summer, Cody will be spending his time hunting and playing baseball.
Erin Marchant, is a credit intern at the Janesville office and studies Agribusiness at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She will be a junior this fall and is involved in Collegiate Farm Bureau, Sigma Alpha Sorority, Ag Business Club and Agriculture Future of America on campus. While interning with Badgerland Financial, Erin is interested in learning about various agricultural financial services and how they are interconnected. Erin grew up on her family’s farm in Brodhead, Wisconsin and was involved in her local 4-H and FFA chapter.
Turner Moen, a senior studying Ag Business Finance, is serving as a crop insurance intern at the Sun Prairie office. Turner is looking forward to learning something new in his field of study and exploring the possibility of a career in Crop Insurance. Turner calls Lake Mills, Wisconsin home and grew up farming with his father and grandfather. He attends Southwest Minnesota State and plays on the varsity basketball team.
Ashlin O’Brien recently graduated with a degree in Business Administration and emphasis in Marketing from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is a crop insurance intern at the Sun Prairie office. While attending college, she played Division 1 softball and served as a Student Athletic Advisory Committee representative. Through acreage reporting and indexing, Ashlin is looking forward to learning more about the overall process and communication of a business. She is originally from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and grew up raising cattle with her family.
Lindsey Sarbacker, an incoming freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a crop insurance intern at the Sun Prairie office. Lindsey plans to study Dairy Science and Ag Business Management, and is excited to experience the daily role of an insurance technician. Lindsey is from Stoughton, Wisconsin and she was involved in extracurricular activities including National Honors Society, Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association, FFA and served as the Dane County Holstein Queen. Lindsey hopes to be involved in similar organizations on campus and continue to be an advocate for agriculture.
Keelyn Swanson, a junior at Iowa State University, is a crop insurance intern at the Janesville office. She is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Business and Agriculture in Society and is involved in Sigma Alpha Sorority, Agricultural Business Club, Block & Bridle and Bacon Expo on campus. Keelyn would like to become more connected in the agriculture industry and is interested to experience the crop insurance process from an agent’s point of view. Keelyn calls Byron, Illinois home and grew up on her family’s grain farm and cow-calf operation.
Jessica Tharp, is an Animal Science major with a Masters of Business at Iowa State University and serves as a crop insurance intern at the Sun Prairie office. She will be a junior this fall and is involved in Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, The George Washington Carver Scholar and Mentor program, Block & Bridle club and is the recruitment chair for Bacon Expo. Jessica is from Waverly, Iowa and is looking forward to spending her summer in Wisconsin. Jessica is excited to experience another side of the agriculture business and learn more about crop insurance.
Badgerland Financial, headquartered in Prairie du Sac, Wis., is a customer-owned financial cooperative proud to finance the growth of agriculture and rural America. Badgerland Financial is one of the region’s leading providers of credit, crop insurance, tax and accounting services to farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents. The company is committed to delivering on its vision to cultivate prosperity for agriculture and rural Wisconsin by serving member-owners through offices in 33 southern Wisconsin counties. To learn more, visit badgerlandfinancial.com.
On July 1, pending regulatory approval, Badgerland Financial will join 1st Farm Credit Services and AgStar Financial Services in becoming Compeer Financial, strengthening our commitment to the agricultural community. By combining resources, knowledge and expertise, Compeer Financial will champion the hopes and dreams of rural America like never before.
— Badgerland Financial
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