Internships prepare Ag & Equine students for career

Laramie County Community College sophomore Victoria "Tori" Donovan wasn’t even sure she wanted to go to college when she finished high school. But today, thanks to a decision to attend college and take on an internship as part of the Ag & Equine Pathway, she’s on her way to a career. 

Coming from Belle Fourche, South Dakota, agriculture has always been a part of Donovan’s life.

“My passion and love for animals and being outside is what really draws me to the industry,” she said. 

While she wasn’t sure what to do when finishing high school, Donovan said she initially looked at LCCC because of her interest in the rodeo team. She went out on a limb and decided to visit the Cheyenne campus. After a tour of the college’s outstanding facilities and a meeting with Pathway Coordinator Katie Shockley, Donovan said she knew it was an opportunity she could not pass up. 

Now in her second year pursuing an associate of applied science in the Ag & Equine Program, Donovan has shifted her focus to the training and rehab of horses when she graduates. To help her prepare for that goal, LCCC facilitated an internship for Donovan in Spring 2023.

For educators at LCCC, including in the Ag & Equine Pathway, internships can be an incredibly valuable experience for students. 

“I am a huge proponent of students doing an internship,” Shockley said. “I think that's one of the great ways students can get exposed to agriculture and see what jobs are out there.”

Donovan interned at Golden Creek Equine, a business offering premier rehabilitation, foaling, mare care and retirement services with its main facility located on 100 acres in Cheyenne. Her typical day included watering horses, ensuring their health and safety and attending to their daily needs such as cleaning and feeding. She also performed palpations and ultrasounds on horses and handled other breeding-related duties. Donovan gained knowledge in dressage training, a form of horse riding performed in exhibitions and competitions, and participated in hoof rehabilitation for off-the-track horses retired from racing.

Going into the internship, Donovan said she wasn’t 100% certain in her abilities. But through her work, she said she built confidence through the hands-on work with horses. 

"For me, that internship really helped build my confidence and get my foot in the door of the agricultural and equine industries around the Cheyenne area," she said. 

Donovan performed so admirably in her internship that she was offered a position over the summer. Today, she’s moved into the facility where she works part-time while she’s finishing her degree at LCCC. A full-time position was offered to Donovan, ready for her when she completes her degree.

Another Ag & Equine student, Wacey Flack, has also taken advantage of internship opportunities at LCCC that have accelerated his education and career readiness. 

Flack graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Agriculture Production Technology in May 2023 and completed his Equine Management Credit Diploma on May 11 of this year. 

Flack is a key member of the Ranch Horse Team who has an interest in the equestrian discipline of reined cow horses. (This activity combines elements of reining and cow work, showcasing the versatility, athleticism and training of the horse, as well as the skill and horsemanship of the rider.)

In his latest deep dive into the equine world, Flack went to Trump Performance Horses, located in Chadron, Nebraska, where he’s continued to add to his knowledge and skills in reined cow horses. (His previous internships were in Bowie, Texas, and Guthrie, Texas.) 

For the internship in Chadron, Flack had to start his day at 7:30 a.m., graining and feeding horses. Then, he moves on to preparing older show horses, which includes catching, brushing, saddling them and putting on their leg protection. Once the trainer arrives, they work with the horses on a flag and then on live cattle. Afterward, they unsaddle and groom the horses before moving on to younger horses. The activities with the younger horses vary, including pasture work or arena drills. 

“Pretty much every day we’re building on the work we’ve done with all the horses we’re riding,” Flack said.  

Each week, students review their activities and apply classroom lessons to their internship tasks. For instance, classroom discussions about leases, renting stables and contracts directly relate to Flack’s experiences at the training barn, where real-life applications of these topics occur. It’s valuable, he said, to see how classroom concepts tie into real-world scenarios.

"There’s a lot I’ve learned in school that I’m seeing firsthand through these internship opportunities,” he said. “It’s amazing to see how everything ties together. We talked about this stuff in class, and now I get to see it in real-world scenarios."

Flack said his internship, particularly with cow horse training, is invaluable because it prepares him for the industry by providing hands-on experience. The high-level training requires significant practice, making internships essential before entering the field. Combining classroom learning with practical experience through internships gives him a head start in the workforce, allowing him to step into a professional program confidently and efficiently.

"I feel like the college has done a great job preparing me for a career,” Flack said. “The classroom instruction was thorough, and the internships were incredibly helpful. Overall, the experience has set me up well to jump right into the workforce. I feel prepared for whatever comes my way."

Both students’ internships were facilitated by Morgan Pennington, LCCC equine instructor and Ranch Horse & Equestrian Team coach. 

"Morgan asked what we were interested in, what we wanted to learn and which workforce we wanted to enter after graduation,” Donovan said. “She helped us find internships that suited our individual goals and what I wanted to do in the future."

With his credit diploma and degree in tow, Flack said he plans to take on a position at LCCC over the summer as the assistant barn manager. After that, he said he’s confident the skills he learned as a student will take him to the career he’s seeking. Flack said his internships have played a valuable role in getting him ready for that future. 

"I think internships are a great opportunity,” he said. “If you're unsure about a career path, an internship lets you experience it firsthand for eight weeks. You get a feel for the work and can decide if it's right for you. If it’s not, you can always redirect. Internships help students understand what they want to do long-term and if their degree supports that. So, take advantage of these opportunities while you can."

Go to lccc.wy.edu/agEquine for more about the Ag & Equine Pathway.