HARRISBURG, Pa. – Undergraduate students, high school graduates, and dairy farmers are encouraged to apply for two 2026 internship opportunities. Applications are now being accepted for On-Farm Internships and a Dairy Education and Communications Internship next summer.

The Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania (PDMP), Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, and Dairy Excellence Foundation partner to support the On-Farm Internship program, while the Center for Dairy Excellence sponsors the Dairy Education and Communications Internship. Online internship applications for both opportunities are now available and due in November.

“These internship opportunities are a great way for students to take their personal interests in dairy science, animal science, or even agricultural communications, and expand on their knowledge through real-world experience,” said Michelle Shearer, workforce development manager at the Dairy Excellence Foundation. “At the farm level, these are competitive internships that help expose students to new management styles, different herd sizes, new technology, and different work environments. Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in dairy production, while the dairy producers who participate in the program have the opportunity to mentor a young dairy professional and lighten the workload of other team members during the summer months.”

The on-farm internship experiences give high school graduates and undergraduate college students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in dairy production through a 10- to 12-week internship at the farm level. Participating students receive a $3000 stipend in addition to compensation from their host farms. To apply, students must meet one of the following requirements:

• Currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of a Pennsylvania university or college
• A resident of Pennsylvania who is currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, an out-of-state university or college
• A resident of Pennsylvania with a high school diploma and between the ages of 18 and 25 as of June 15, 2026, who has agriculture experience and an interest in dairy farming

In addition, students must be either majoring in animal sciences or a related agriculture field or gaining experience in production agriculture. Students who are accepted into the on-farm internship program are paired with host farms that can help them solidify their career goals. Throughout the experience, interns will participate in discussion groups, set goals for the summer, and complete an in-depth research project. Dairy farmers that are interested in hosting an intern may be located within or outside of Pennsylvania, but producers must agree to expose the intern to all aspects of a successful, progressive dairy operation.

“I love to dive in and get my hands dirty. My host farm was nothing but welcoming to that. I really thought that I would just stand around and watch everybody, but my managers would give one cow an IV and then say, ‘All right, you’re next. You’re doing it.’ That forced me out of my comfort zone. They fully involved me in all of their operations,” said Payton Eierman, a student at Delaware Valley University and a previous on-farm intern.

The Center for Dairy Excellence is also seeking a Dairy Education, Programs and Communications intern for May-August 2026. Applicants must be entering at least their sophomore year of an undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university. This is a paid internship with a competitive hourly wage for 10-12 weeks at 40 hours a week. The intern will assist with the continued development of dairy education curriculum programs, creating communications and marketing content, and planning youth educational events.

Student applications for all internship opportunities are due by November 1, 2025.

Host farm applications are due by November 15, 2025.

Contact Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org or 570-768-8316 with questions.