One of my biggest takeaways from my summer internship at Townley Farms was learning the importance of clear, efficient communication in a physically demanding and fast-paced environment. Working with livestock required constant coordination with coworkers and the farm manager, whether we were moving cattle, feeding, checking health conditions, or maintaining equipment. I realized that even small miscommunications could lead to safety risks or delays, so being direct, attentive, and responsive became crucial. What had the biggest impact on me as a developing professional communicator was seeing how much trust and teamwork rely on effective communication. I had to learn how to ask the right questions, listen carefully to instructions, and speak up when I noticed something that needed attention. I also learned how to adapt my communication style based on who I was talking to, whether it was a peer, a supervisor, or a veterinarian, which helped me become more confident and flexible. This experience sharpened my ability to stay calm under pressure and speak with clarity and purpose, skills that I know will carry over into any future professional role.

Over the course of my internship on the cattle farm this summer, I was able to clearly identify several personal strengths and areas for improvement in both technical and interpersonal aspects of the role. One of my strongest skills was team collaboration. I found that I worked well with both my coworkers and the farm manager, communicating effectively during daily tasks such as feeding routines, cattle health checks, and pasture rotations. I also became comfortable using required communication tools, such as record-keeping and daily logbooks, which helped ensure that all team members were on the same page. A major strength I developed further was my industry understanding through hands-on experience. I gained a deeper knowledge of livestock behavior, nutrition, and sustainable farm operations. However, I also recognized certain weaknesses. For example, while I was confident in one-on-one conversations, I struggled with public speaking during larger team meetings or when presenting ideas to stakeholders like visiting veterinarians or suppliers. Additionally, although I engaged with stakeholders when needed, I sometimes hesitated to take the lead in those interactions. I preferred to defer to more experienced team members. This experience has helped me identify these areas for growth, and I plan to continue developing my confidence in public speaking and leadership in stakeholder communication going forward.

Week 6! Time is flying. Some key takeaways of concern for the organization right now would definitely be the weather and how well we can grow our fields, not only for hay but also for grazing for cattle. We have to make sure our cattle are gaining weight appropriately while also ensuring the grass is growing enough to cut in time to have the hay we need in the winter. The Farm has done very well with communication and different approaches to these issues. Bottom line is you cannot control the weather and or what is going to happen each week with livestock, but you can plan and prepare for the worst so that when it comes we are ready. The cows have been rotated properly and fed just right and our hay production is going well due to our irrigation systems. 

The key stakeholders on this farm are the owner/founder, the farm manager, and the workers beneath him. The owner has the biggest stake with his financial investment, and next would be the farm manager. The farm manager has to oversee all the workers and make sure everything is flowing smoothly. Finally, the individual workers have a larger than normal stake as their outcome depends on their work input. My job targets mostly the outcome for the farm manager, making sure I get what I need to get done daily. This eventually rolls up to the owner with the outcome of the farm, but specifically targets the farm manager. 

Fourth of July week! I am excited to be vlogging and celebrating this week! I am currently working on a few different projects. I have been working closely with the hay production as seen in the photos and video below. We are trying to figure out our numbers and bales per cow to shoot for the best possible outcome for the winter. We are currently sitting around 1000 bales for the season and hoping to get even better cuts off the fields the next go around in late summer. I am also working on the planning of the new season's Christmas trees and irrigation plans for that sector. I am also working on a new plan for the Christmas Shop that I cannot go deeper into, but it is very exciting. Finally, we are also just working with different groups of cows, making sure they have their shots and preg checking a few. 

When I took this position, I did not expect to be thrown into the work so quickly. I did not have much experience with hay production before I started this job, and I was thrown into the fire. I believe it helped me in the long run with the sharpness of my skills now. I lack in areas such as coworker judgment, meaning I need to understand them better. I will spend time with them and hopefully gain more knowledge on how they operate. I also lack patience and pace. I want to get things done fast, and I wanna do them in the most efficient way possible. Sometimes that just isn't achievable. 

This week, I got to know my co-workers and started to learn more about them. My co-worker, Trey Aycock, is pictured to the left with his horse, Packman. I also work with Brant John son a fellow cattle farmer. Finally, my boss is CJ O'Mara. CJ worked with the University of Georgia for many years with their cows and farm. As far as responsibilities and duties, Trey and Brant check the cows daily and make sure they have water, feed, and enough grass for the week. They also do a routine check to make sure none of the calves or cows are injured or in need of doctoring. CJ usually plans out the week rotation and makes sure we have the equipment/feed for the week in order to make sure we keep an exact schedule of when to doctor and tend to the cows. For the most part, we all work together throughout the week to make each group work and comfortable for the weekend, then start back Monday to assess the rotation for the week. 

The Company I will be working for is Townley Farms. The farm is located in Bogart, Ga, in Oconee County. I also live in Oconee County, about a mile away from the farm! My position will be a farmhand/ middleman for the different companies we will use for supplies and other various orders. My responsibilities will be the common everyday tasks of a farmhand. I will have to move and doctor the cows/calves in the morning, as well as check the pastures and fence lines. I will also have to assist in any shots/medicine that will have to be administered. I will need to help contact and order our supplies and other various tools and feeds we will have to have weekly. Finally, I will need to cut and bale hay for the winter and keep track of those numbers as well.