Make the Most of Ag Industry Internships with 2024 PDP Accelerate

Build skills, network to prepare for career in July 24 training session

Summer internships provide valuable opportunities for college students to gain real-world experiences and pave the way for job opportunities and success after graduation. PDP Accelerate™, a one-day training event presented by the Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP), will help agriculture sector interns make the most of their internship experience, network with fellow students and hone their leadership and communications skills as they prepare to enter the workforce.

PDP Accelerate™ will be held on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Madison East in Madison, Wisconsin. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m., with the workshop running from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The program registration fee includes all workshop materials and lunch.

“This program not only provides interns with additional value to their summer experience through interactive learning but also provides employers with the opportunity to invest in the professional development of their interns, ensuring they return to their organizations equipped with enhanced communication, leadership and networking skills,” said Amber Cafferty, Marketing and Development Coordinator at PDP. “Employers who send their inters to PDP Accelerate demonstrate their commitment to empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders and preparing them for successful careers in the industry.”

PDP Accelerate will be facilitated by Michael Hoffman, founder and owner of Igniting Performance Inc, a Dallas-based company that specializes in the skills of sales, customer loyalty and leadership. Hoffman combines a dynamic style with experience in agriculture and dairy industry to tailor the program to the skills young professionals will need in today’s workforce.

“I loved getting to know more young professionals who share the same passion for agriculture and leadership as I do,” said Alyson Buchholz, who completed the Accelerate workshop in 2023 while interning with Mayer Farm and Folk Song Farm. “We learned many great skills, especially when it came to teamwork, which is very beneficial for entering a career in agriculture.”

Hoffman will lead interns through hands-on and dynamic sessions to improve their ability to initiate meaningful conversations, leverage technology effectively, exude confident body language, navigate diverse team dynamics, solicit and implement constructive feedback and expand their professional networks.

Learn more about PDP Accelerate and register interns by visiting www.pdpw.org or calling 800-947-7379.

Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) is the nation’s largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.