Iowa State Student to Travel to China for Dairy Marketing Internship

Lorilee Schultz, a senior in agriculture business and economics from Ogden, is getting ready to travel to the Peopleӳ Republic of China on an International Agricultural Internship Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Schultz was studying for her final exams when she found out she had been chosen for a four-month long USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) internship in Guangzhou, China. Guangzhou is two hours from Hong Kong in southeast China. "I was up at 2 a.m. writing a journalism paper on Dec. 8, when I got the e-mail saying they wanted to talk to me about the job. It was about 4 p.m. in China, so I got it as soon as the USDA sent it. My first reaction was җow. China. I donӴ know Chinese! But this will be really interesting.Ң Schultz plans to be in her office in Guangzhou on Jan. 7. Schultz, 21, heard about the opportunity through College of Agricultureӳ Career Services more than a year ago, but wasnӴ eligible until her senior year. "I kept it in the back of my mind that whole time," she said. Her application was one of more than 60 from across the United States that would be considered for an internship in countries including Belgium, Russia, Brazil and China. In early December, she learned she was one of 20 finalists for 10 different posts. It was an anxious time waiting to hear back, as Schultz did not know if or where she would be accepted for an internship. It was China that got to her first and offered her the opportunity of a lifetime and what seemed like a custom-made position. "My job will be to edit market and trade reports and help organize a series of seminars throughout southeast China for dairy producers. It seems like such a perfect opportunity for all of my interests," said Schultz, who has minors in animal science and journalism. Schultz has been active on the Iowa State campus, serving last year as the College of Agricultureӳ Student Council president, the highest student office in the college. She also is involved in leadership positions in the ISU Dairy Science Club and National Agri-Marketing Association chapter. Schultz also worked last summer for Hoardӳ Dairyman magazine, a national dairy farm publication, as an editorial intern where she interacted with dairy producers from all over the United States. Being on a dairy farm should be no problem for Schultz who has been involved with her grandparentsҠdairy farm. "IӶe really gotten active on the farm in the last 12 years or so, creating marketing pieces, helping out younger family members and evaluating our herd management practices to improve milk quality." "Iӭ excited to visit Chinese dairy farms. I think thereӳ a lot to be learned both ways," Schultz, a dairy judging team member, said. Several ISU faculty and staff members who have done research work in China, have been offering her advice on what to expect. Among them is David Acker, associate dean for academic and global programs in the College of Agriculture, who wrote a letter of recommendation for Schultz. "China will offer an ideal internship location for Lorilee to experience the true globalization of markets," Acker said. "I expect she will be amazed by the densely populated urban environments, delighted with the warmth and intelligence of the Chinese people and thrilled with the opportunity to explore the ancient yet highly sophisticated food and agriculture system of the worldӳ most populous country." "We send students all over the world to gain experience that will be put to good use as they join the workforce and help to make U.S. agriculture more competitive," Acker said. "Tomorrowӳ professional agricultural work force must be able to operate in a globally interdependent food and agriculture system. The very best way to prepare for work in this globally competitive industry is to spend time studying or working in a foreign culture." "ISUӳ College of Agriculture is one of the nationӳ leaders in sending students majoring in agriculture fields to different countries," Acker added. During the last academic year, more than 250 students from the College of Agriculture have studied on all seven continents. Schultz plans to stay in China for a few weeks after her internship is complete to tour Chinaӳ cultural destinations like the Great Wall and the Imperial City.