2026 Summer Internship Operations

Description

About Us

Wholestone Prestage is a 100% vertically integrated pork processor based in Freemont, NE and Eagle Grove, IA. We are proudly owned by 235 American farm families. We sell fresh pork under our brand Wholestone Farms. We have the 2 newest and most modern pork processing plants in the U.S. We harvest over 5.6 million pigs annually. We sell over 1.2 billion pounds of pork globally.

Summary

This is a paid internship at one of two plants located in either Freemont, NE or Eagle Grove, IA.

The 10-week program will start first week of June and run to mid-August. This internship provides hands-on experience in food processing operations, data analysis, and project-based problem solving while giving you the chance to work alongside experienced operations professionals. Over the course of the summer, you will contribute to projects that focus on operational efficiency and process improvement, including continuous improvement of automation systems, yield studies, and recovery opportunities.

Benefits

• Paid Summer Internship
• Housing available if needed
• Unlimited hands-on Experience

Education, Licensure and Experience

• Current college Junior or Senior
• Degree and major of study in Marketing, Agribusiness or equivalent required

Language Skills

Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the language of the majority cultural group in order to communicate effectively.  Must be able to hear enough to understand those individuals as well.  Ability to read, interpret, and comprehend documents such as grafts/flow sheets, financials, general professional articles and publications, governmental regulations, safety rules, assignment sheets, and procedure manuals.  Must be able to write reports, business correspondence, policies and procedures, and other administrative forms as outlined above. 

Must be able to effectively communicate in both individual and group settings.  Must be able to present information and respond to questions from individuals and/or groups. 

Mathematical Skills

In order to perform duties, must be able to:

1. 1.     Add, subtract, multiply, and divide all units of measure such as whole numbers, fractions, percentages, and fractions. 
2. 2.     Compute rate, discounts, ratios, and percent, and 
3. 3.     Make, read and interpret financials, graphs, rates, ratios, and percentages.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense and judgment in solving problems and interpreting and understanding instructions furnished in written or oral form.  Must be able to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action yet reason when to involve supervisor. 

Computer Skills

Basic computer knowledge with the ability to learn software.

Other Skills and Abilities           

1. 1.     Display strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deal with frequent interruptions.
2. 2.     Basic office skills such as phone skills, voicemail, copying, faxing, typing, and directing visitors.
3. 3.     Ability to function independently given assigned duties. 
4. 4.     Ability to communicate, work, and interact with a variety of individuals.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands and/or fingers to feel, manipulate small objects, write, and type.  The employee is frequently required to bend; squat/kneel; twist/turn; sit; talk; hear and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to push/pull; climb; walk; stand; and balance.  The employee is rarely required to smell and/or taste.  The employee must frequently lift/carry/move up to 15 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and to warm/cold and/or humid/dry conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.