About the role#
This internship offers veterinary students practical exposure to poultry health, disease prevention, animal welfare, and commercial turkey production. You will work alongside staff veterinarians, farm managers, and corporate team members to support flock performance and health objectives. This role is designed for those interested in food animal medicine, population medicine, and production agriculture.
What you'll do#
- Learn principles of poultry health, preventive medicine, biosecurity, and disease management.
- Gain hands-on exposure to commercial turkey production, including breeder, hatchery, brooder, and growout operations.
- Observe and participate in flock health evaluations, diagnostic investigations, and animal welfare assessments.
- Assist with data collection, analysis, and interpretation related to flock health, production performance, and welfare metrics.
- Learn how veterinary services supports food safety, animal care, regulatory compliance, and operational decision-making.
- Design, execute, and present an independent project to veterinary and production leadership.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in or acceptance to an accredited U.S. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program.
- Completion of at least one year of veterinary school.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.
- Ability to meet all biosecurity requirements and work comfortably in a farm and barn setting.
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation to and from assigned work locations.
- Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
- Strong work ethic and a desire to learn in a production agriculture environment.
- Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical team members.
- Authorization to work in the United States for any employer without future sponsorship.
- Interest in poultry medicine, food animal production, epidemiology, population medicine, or animal welfare.
- Experience with research projects, data analysis, or scientific study design is preferred.
Location & details#
- Location: Willmar, Minnesota.
- Term: Summer 2027.
- Work Modality: On-site.
- Employment Type: Full-time.
About Hormel Foods
Hormel Foods is a global branded food company based in Austin, Minnesota. Founded in 1891, the organization manages a portfolio of brands including SPAM, SKIPPY, and PLANTERS. It operates as a public company and is a member of the S&P 500 Index. The business employs over 10,000 people.
How to get in at Hormel Foods
Applying early to Hormel Foods gives you a better chance of being seen before the applicant pool grows too large. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, so you can submit your materials among the first. Getting your application in early is a practical way to manage the competition. You can use Intern Insider to identify the specific recruiters behind these roles and reach out directly to ask about the position or a referral. Connecting with a human at Hormel Foods often improves your response rates compared to waiting in a queue. This approach takes more effort than a standard application, but it is a common way to gain visibility.
