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Student Internship Spotlight: Amber Layne

Fresno State agricultural education senior Amber Layne had a busy first year back in the Central Valley as a junior in 2019-20 after getting her associate's degree from Northern Oklahoma College in agricultural science.

At Fresno State, the Modesto native competed as a junior on the livestock judging team, and was a member of the Fresno State Young Cattlemen's Association and Fresno State Sigma Alpha agricultural sorority.

Learn more about her and a summer internship at Superior Farms, a nationally-respected livestock company committed to sustainability and  innovation, in this interview.

 

Q: Give us a quick overview of your summer internship for Superior Farms

Layne: "I worked in the technical services department on a number of different things with Ann Vassar and Andrea Perkins. For the most part, I worked closely with fair animals coming into the plant by collecting carcass data on the animals to create a carcass contest for the fairs. I also worked with our costume harvests that came through the plant by making sure that they received the correct invoices for the amount of sheep or goats they brought in. I also submitted our labels to the USDA to create a more accurate paper trail of the labels that are in production for the companies of Walmart, Costco, and Kroger."

 

Q: What types of clients did you work with, and what were some of the things you learned that you can apply to your career potentially?

Layne: "My main clients were fairs across California as well as Washington, and I worked closely with Superior Farms lamb producers that provide American raised lamb to our corporation. One of the main skills I was able to gain was communication, and that no one question is too small to ask. I also learned the importance of quality control and the roles that the USDA has on a production line."

  

Q: What is your family's background in agriculture?

Layne: "I have been raising sheep all my life. My great grandpa started our sheep business with frame Suffolks. It was my grandpa and dad who slowly developed our club lamb operation into what it is today. Growing up we also had a small grove of walnut trees at my grandparent’s house, and we obtained two acres of almonds trees when we moved to the west side of Modesto."

 

Q: What's plans are you considering after graduation?

Layne: "I plan to enter the credential ag education program and teach agriculture to high school students. After some time in the workforce I plan to continue my education and achieve my master’s degree in Agricultural Education."