Cardinal Internship - Learning on the Farm
April 2023 - Jack, Cardinal's Summer/Fall Intern
How did you get introduced to Cardinal?
I got introduced to Cardinal through Andy Dickerson. I’ve always known about Cardinal but I never really thought about what they really do until I started to work here over the summer.
What did your role at Cardinal entail?
My role at Cardinal entailed various different things like cleaning out the barn for the annual meeting, working on a pond management plan, and even feeding Damien when she was just a calf. There are a lot of different things that I did on the farm over the summer, but everyday there was something different that had to be done.
What was your favorite project you got to work on?
My favorite project that I worked on at the farm wasn’t really a project, but more of a once a week kinda thing. Bush Hogging the pastures was probably my favorite job to do on the farm. It was entertaining to hear all the branches and shrubs get cut up under you and is actually pretty relaxing because you are basically just sitting on the tractor with nothing to do except drive around and find things to cut up.
What did you learn during your time at Bahr Farm?
During my time at the farm, I learned how much work it takes to just maintain the farm and how much effort it takes to keep it in a manageable condition.
If you were starting your own farm, what would it look like?
If I were to start my own farm, one of the first things that I would make sure to have is a pond. Ponds bring lots of wildlife to the Bahr Farm and watching it explode from the time we stocked it with fish in march to the end of summer was a clear example of how important it is to a farm. Livestock is definitely something else that would be a must have on any farm. They are a great source of income if you raise them to be processed, as long as you are aware of how much work it takes.
If you could educate people on one thing, what would it be?
I would educate people on the struggles of maintaining cattle. The amount of hay that you have to buy in the winter is astronomical and there is always something that has to be done with them. You also have to have a plan to rotate them around to different pastures so they don’t destroy each one when they eat the grass down to the ground.
What is next for you?
What is next for me? When I finish my sophomore year at UC, I will actually be back on the farm over the summer! As for the future, I’m not sure what is next for me. Hopefully finish college and graduate with a degree in sports administration.
