A SUMMER WITH SMITHFIELD

By: Caroline Bosler

About Me■ From Indianapolis, IN■ Junior at Purdue University■ Animal Sciences, concentration: Pre Veterinary Medicine■ College of Agriculture Dean’s Scholar■ Purdue Equestrian Team

Farms■3731

– 1900 sow farm– Ana Posas– First 5 weeks – Breeding– Reggie is an amazing AI man

and teacher■2703

– 2400 sow farm– Tomas Rivera– Second 5 weeks– Farrowing

(Before remodel)

Initial Expectations■ Work with hogs■ Large Farms■ Learn about

concentrated farming

Farm Skills■ Identifying injured and sick animals■ Moving and handling sows, gilts, piglets, and boars■ Breed using both traditional AI and PCAI■ All farrowing processing and castrating procedures

Extracurricular Activities■ Wrightsville Beach Day trips■ Weekend at Myrtle Beach■ Lazy days by White Lake■ Defying Gravity■ Harrells Tractor and Truck Pull

Above and Beyond My Expectations■ Learned by doing■ Effectively communicated across the language barrier■ Made great friends■ Networking

Suggestions■ More in detailed, standardized training of animal

procedures■ Learn about boar studs■ Learn about genetics