Story by Amy Turner, Staff writer

Photo by Brock Kirk/The News

Almost every major on campus shares one thing in common: the need for an internship. This requirement is usually fulfilled in the summer to avoid interfering with classes.

Ally Grote, junior from Bowling Green, Missouri, completed an internship this summer with Purina Animal Nutrition in Labadie, Missouri. Grote worked in market analysis, meaning she spent her summer surveying customer satisfaction.

“Simply put, I went door-to-door of existing and non-existing customers asking them to complete a short survey,” Grote said. “Questions varied from species to species, but the main goal was to gain their opinion about Straatmann Feed and Purina Animal Nutrition.”

After discovering this internship, she researched the position and knew she wanted to apply. She got the opportunity to work for one of the Purina Dealers, Straatmann Feed.

She said this was her second internship and she was able to make lasting connections with the people she interacted with.

“The thing I loved the most about this internship was the hands-on experience I gained,” Grote said. “A majority of my time was spent outside interacting with the customers. I was able to help fix some of the complaints customers and gain their business back.”

The passion she has for her career goals was reassured through this experience.

“After working so closely with the customers, I know I want to be involved in the process that actually develops the feed,” Grote said. “My goal for the future is to become a Ruminant Nutritionist, which means working as a nutritionist with cattle.”

This summer not only helped to solidify her career goals, but to ease her mind about the treatment of animals.

“This summer made me realize just how important nutrition is to animals, and how farmers and horse owners definitely do have the animal’s best interest at heart,” Grote said.

When thinking of all the people who helped her get to and through this opportunity, a few strong supporters came to mind.

“My friend Sydney helped me get through the summer when things got crazy and my stress level was through the roof,” Grote said. “I am also very thankful for my professor, Dr. Amanda Davis, for pushing me to do my best.”

She said she is also very blessed and thankful to have her parents who have always shown her love and supported her endlessly during this internship.