Week 7

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.