BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY 2013 SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

For more than two decades, Ball Horticultural Company has offered a wide variety of internships to students majoring in Horticulture, Plant Science, Agribusiness, and related fields. Each year, our internship projects are linked to specific business initiatives, which encompass a range of horticulture disciplines including advanced research, breeding and genetics, marketing, business operations, production, and trialing. All internships require a minimum of Junior-level standing at a regionally accredited, four-year university or college. Historically, Ball interns arrive with significant academic and/or related extracurricular accomplishments, although consideration is given to those students demonstrating exceptional promise. When applying for these internship projects, students should consider the following:

All internships are offered during the summer months for a period of 10-12 weeks.

Starting and ending dates are relatively flexible, depending upon the schedule of the student and the needs of the department; we prefer interns start no later than the Tuesday after Memorial Day.

Unless otherwise noted, internships are located in West Chicago, Illinois, which is a suburb approximately 35 miles west of Chicago.

Rate of pay is $11.00 per hour. Students typically work 40 hours/week, although some internships require overtime during critical periods.

For students who do not have housing available, we provide fully furnished and appointed apartments in a nearby complex and absorb the majority of the rental costs. The student portion of housing costs generally run about $200.00 per month; food, telephone and transportation costs are not included. Students are required to have their own transportation since housing is not within walking distance from work locations and public transportation is not available.

A major goal of the program is to expose students to multiple aspects of our business operations; presentations and tours of departments throughout the corporation are provided on a regular basis during the summer. Similarly, interns are expected to participate in relevant company and industry events including the OFA Short Course and Ball Customer Day.

All internships culminate in early August with a final presentation made to members of Ball’s Executive and Senior Management Teams.

The application deadline is February 28, 2013. Intern selections will be determined by mid-March 2013. All applicants will be notified of our decisions.

Students interested in pursuing one of these internships should forward a cover letter and resume to:

Ball Horticultural Company Attn: Mike Williams

622 Town Road West Chicago, IL 60185

630-231-3600, ext. 3308 Fax: 630-231-3592

E-mail: mwilliams@ballhort.com Web site: www.ballhort.com

BALL INNOVATIONS INTERNSHIP WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Supervised by: Greg Trabka

Description

The students will assist with the development methodology for measuring microbial activity in horticulture growing substrates. This will involve gathering knowledge on existing methods through working with labs specializing in this type of work. This student will set-up and perform trials to determine benefits of microbial inoculums for production of horticulture crops. Taking this information, we expect the student to help develop best practices for using microbial inoculums with Daniel’s Plant Food nutrition.

Requirements

Junior or senior level student majoring in microbiology, horticulture or related field. This internship requires intermediate-level proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Student must be self-directed, have the ability to organize and prioritize their work. Similarly, this hands-on internship requires that the student is able to work under a variety of environmental conditions, including working at a desk to obtain/gather information and then in a greenhouse environment in the summer months performing trials.

Seed Operations Internship WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Supervised by: Dave Hanebuth

Description

The student will work to reduce production costs by refining work processes and by designing a packaging handling unit for our new seed counter. This will be accomplished by working directly with department supervisors and employees to ensure knowledge transfer and to take advantage of local expertise. Expected outcomes from this include establishing baseline performance, implementing process changes, developing new performance expectations, documenting work processes with flow charts, and eliminating steps that do not add value. This project will be highly visible within the department and requires an interpersonal acumen as well as someone who can work effectively across department teams.

Requirements

Junior or senior level student majoring in horticulture, agriculture, agribusiness or other related field. This position requires a person who has good communication and computer skills, specifically a comfort working in Microsoft environment and analyzing data. In addition, individual should be a self-starter, have strong organizational skills and good writing/documentation skills. Previous leadership experience will be helpful.

FINANCE INTERNSHIP WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Supervised by: Jacco Kuipers

Description

The Finance department supports all facets of the core business with generalized accounting functions to high level financial analysis. Partnering with the core business activities is essential in this group. This project will involve an initiative to investigate the known issues in product profitability information, as well as in finding ways to track and assign revenues/costs/profitability for added services and charges. These added services/charges are related to things like royalties, freight and tags. Profitability will need to be evaluated as to whether a profit was made and which business unit gets credit for the profit. This project is owned by the finance department, however the student must work in close collaboration with the IT department as any outcomes from the project may have implications on our SAP configurations and/or future implementations. This project will be highly visible within the department and requires an interpersonal acumen as well as someone who can work effectively across department teams.

Requirements

Junior or senior level student majoring in agribusiness, accounting/finance, horticulture with a minor in accounting or other related field. This position requires a person who has good communication and computer skills, specifically a comfort working in Microsoft environment and analyzing data. In addition, individual should be a self-starter, have strong organizational skills and good writing/documentation skills.

MARKETING INTERNSHIP WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Supervised by: Tim Duffin

Description

This individual will be immersed in the marketing side of the horticulture business by assisting the department with a variety of marketing, advertising, public relations and social media projects. Areas of activity may include the following:

Creation of ‘how-to’ consumer videos for Burpee Home Gardens and Wave brand programs.

Furthering the work previously started on our social media initiatives. “Listening programs” were created last year and follow-up on those as well as continuing efforts to strengthen key messages on featured initiatives.

Conduct our retail research report which will focus on “Displays” at retail. Working with the marketing team to understand objectives, create research instruments, work with team to field research, compile and analyze results.

Support our efforts for our Gardens/Customer Day displays for our branded Wave and Burpee Home Gardens programs.

Some local travel may be required.

Requirements

Junior or senior level student majoring in horticulture, agribusiness or related field with an emphasis on marketing or product promotion. This position requires a person who has good communication and computer skills, specifically a comfort working in MS Excel and analyzing data. In addition, individual should be a self-starter and have strong organizational skills.

DARWIN PERENNIALS INTERNSHIP WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Supervised by: Karl Batschke

Description

This individual will be an integral part of our product development team and included in our product selection process in June and July, gaining valuable insight into the perennial market in North America and world-wide. This internship is also a hands-on experience in the Darwin Perennial Gardens. This internship consists of projects primarily focused on the perennial initiatives of the company. Areas of activity would include the following:

Maintain and collect data from the perennial gardens. In addition to collecting flowering and overwintering data this work also involves pruning, dead-heading and keeping perennial gardens in optimal shape. This also involves updating and maintaining the planting and bed location database.

Maintaining and collecting data from Area 51 perennial trials This involves collecting key data on a weekly basis, tracking this on an excel spreadsheet, taking appropriate photography of trials as well as general trial maintenance such as dead-heading, pruning and assisting with general maintenance. Information gained from this trial is used during the product selection meetings with the sales, marketing and management group of Darwin.

Some local travel may be required.

Requirements

Junior or senior level student majoring in horticulture, landscape design and maintenance or related field. This internship requires intermediate-level proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Selected intern must be self-directed, have the ability to organize and prioritize their work, as well as work a flexible schedule during peak planting periods and in advance of special events. Similarly, this hands-on internship requires that the student is able to work under a variety of environmental conditions, including heat, humidity and rain for prolonged periods of time, as well as lift 50+ pounds and perform physical labor.

VEGETATIVE STOCK INTERNSHIP BALL FLORAPLANT RESEARCH STATION ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA Supervised by: Hilary Hirzel

Description

Our breeding/research facility, located in Arroyo Grande, California, breeds and trials products that may eventually be introduced into the market through Ball FloraPlant. We have an internship opportunity in which someone will:

Utilize the Product Development Database (PDD) tablet device to upload experimental vegetative cutting stock inventory. This requires updating location and stock quantities for all BFP vegetative items and maintaining accurate cutting stock inventory, schedule and implement routine virus testing for stock.

Establishment of efficiency standards for many tasks performed at the facility. This will include cross pollinations, seed sowing, harvesting and sticking cuttings, transplanting, trial spacing, etc.

Participate in the weekly Grower Walk meetings and Facility meetings; assist with summer breeder trials, Santa Ynez field trials and Waterwise trial.

Some local travel may be required.

Requirements

Junior or senior level student majoring in horticulture with an emphasis on greenhouse production would be ideal. This internship requires intermediate-level proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Selected intern must be self-directed, have the ability to organize and prioritize their work, as well as work a flexible schedule during peak planting periods and in advance of special events. Similarly, this hands-on internship requires that the student is able to work under a variety of environmental conditions, including heat, humidity and rain for prolonged periods of time, as well as lift 50+ pounds and perform physical labor. Some Spanish language proficiency would be helpful.

VEGETATIVE ROOTING TRIALS INTERNSHIP WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Supervised by: Will Healy

Description

The primary responsibility of this individual will be to work as a part of a team to evaluate post-harvest handling techniques of unrooted cuttings. The student will be responsible for managing the rooting process and collecting data from the trials along with developing a reporting process for trials that are in process. A secondary study will involve a project that will develop rooting protocols under controlled environment conditions. This is exploratory and will evaluate various environmental factors on rapid root development of unrooted cuttings. Some local travel may be required.

Requirements

Junior or senior level student majoring in horticulture with an emphasis on greenhouse production is ideal. This internship requires intermediate-level proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Selected intern must be self-directed, have the ability to organize and prioritize their work, as well as work a flexible schedule during peak periods. Similarly, this hands-on internship requires that the student is able to work under a variety of environmental conditions, including heat and humidity for prolonged periods of time, as well as lift 50+ pounds and perform physical labor.

SEEDLING DEVELOPMENT INTERNSHIP WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Supervised by: Robert Conrad

Description

This student will work in our Premier Seed Lab on a project involving lighting evaluations in seedling development. Presently all of our plug testing is done under electronic fluorescent lighting in large growth chambers. The system has been designed to replicate the appearance of seedling growth and development that is similar to greenhouse bench production. However, we would like to evaluate different lighting methods and which will enhance uniform growth. Some of the activities involved in this project will include setting up grower facilities and developing lighting standards for each crop. Additional work in evaluation of optimum light spacing, intensity and watering requirements per crop will also be performed. Some local travel may be required.

Requirements

Junior or senior level student majoring in horticulture with an emphasis on greenhouse production is ideal. This internship requires intermediate-level proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Selected intern must be self-directed, have the ability to organize and prioritize their work, as well as work a flexible schedule during peak periods.

CUT FLOWER INTERNSHIP WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Supervised by: Joan Mazat

Description

This individual will be monitoring the outdoor field grown cut flowers in the Ball Gardens preparing for presentations of Ball Cut Flowers on Customer Day and executing the follow up on a market study of a new type of cut flower to investigate its marketability. Areas of activity would include the following:

Field Cuts

Assisting in maintaining a small area of field grown cuts that would mimic what an independent garden center or small grower can do to supplement their products in retail centers or farmer's markets.

Responsibilities would include maintaining netting, pinching, and harvesting the flowers when appropriate.

Presenting at Customer Day our cut flower program to interested customers and noting their feedback/potential interest in the program.

Cut Flower Market Study

A 30 day test market study is proposed to be done at high end grocery chains of a new type of cut flower.

Responsibilities would include monitoring sales/customer acceptance of the product in the market place, and compiling the information to be used in sales presentations. The intern will work with the team at Ball Tagawa in Arroyo Grande, California and will require travel to California.

Additional projects and tasks may be assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

Junior or senior level student majoring in horticulture with an emphasis on greenhouse production would be ideal. Cut flower experience would be helpful but not mandatory. This internship requires intermediate-level proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Selected intern must be self-directed, have the ability to organize and prioritize their work, as well as work a flexible schedule periods. Similarly, this hands-on internship requires that the student is able to work under a variety of environmental conditions, including heat and humidity for prolonged periods of time, and perform physical labor.

GENETIC RESEARCH INTERNSHIP WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Supervised by: Dr. Alan Blowers

Description

The internship will be working within our advanced technology group, Ball Helix. This position will have work responsibilities in the laboratory as well as the greenhouse environment working on projects associated with plant genetics and cytogenetics. In the lab environment, the student will participate in activities such as plant sample preparation, light microscopy, and data recording. The work in the greenhouse will be to help manage the plants that are in our advanced genetics program with general activities such as labeling, sampling, transplanting, spacing, etc. This internship will require both greenhouse and laboratory project work, along with some local travel.

Requirements

Junior or senior undergraduate student majoring in horticulture, genetics, molecular biology or related discipline. A preference will be given to applicants who have completed coursework in genetics and molecular biology, preferably in the plant field. In addition, we would prefer a candidate who has had some experience learning or working in a laboratory environment. Proficiency with MS Word, Excel and Outlook. The selected intern must be self-directed, able to work independently, as well as part of a team, and possess exceptional attention to detail.

HOME GARDEN VEGETABLES MARKET INTERNSHIP PANAMERICAN SEED RESEARCH STATION ELBURN, ILLINOIS Supervised by: Josh Kirschenbaum

Description

This internship project is focused on investigating possible urban market channels for our proprietary vegetable seed products: farm-to-table (farmers marketing directly to restaurants; restaurants who grow their own), and urban farming. Primary project responsibilities include:

Develop market lists of farmers selling directly to restaurants.

Develop market lists of restaurants and other consumer food outlets that produce some of their own food crops

Gather data on top products sold.

Gather data on criteria for chef-differentiated products.

Determine primary decision drivers for these segments from both the farmers and chefs’ point of view.

Gather contact information on leaders in urban farming.

Gather additional data on "eat local" trends, growth rates of these channels, and other information to help us determine value of these channels to our project and refine our approaches.

In addition, the intern will average 2 days/week assisting in the vegetable product development projects.

Requirements

Junior or senior undergraduate student majoring in horticulture, agriculture, agribusiness or other related field. A preference will be given to applicants who have experience in urban agriculture or an expressed interest in this market. Strong verbal and written communication skills, proficiency with MS Word, Excel and Outlook are desired. The selected intern must be self-directed, able to work independently, as well as part of a team, and possess exceptional attention to detail and follow up on market analysis work.