Meet our Inspired Interns
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Rachel Millet, industrial engineering intern, Osceola (Iowa) Food
Rachel spent her week learning about the importance of thorough data collection in making decisions.
“While opinions and visual cues are important, time-, yield- and waste data drive the justifications to implement new systems.”
Rachel’s favorite project this week was performing time studies and collecting data about yield waste in precooked bacon. This information is important, as the team works to redesign a conveyer belt in the facility for increased efficiency.
Her favorite Hormel Foods product is Jennie-O® turkey bacon.
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Mark Belak, maintenance engineering intern at Osceola (Iowa) Food
Mark has been learning how to coordinate with other professionals in the industry to complete a project.
“I’ve learned how to oversee contractors coming in for removal of an air dryer and how to help/professionally communicate my expectations with them.”
Mark took charge and made the first contact, quoted the project team, submitted a work order and ensured things ran smoothly on the day of the removal.
After his hard work, Mark enjoys snacking on Skippy® Super Chunk® peanut butter.
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Anna Beth Barclay, retail sales intern at the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Sales Office
Anna Beth has spent her week making some delicious recipes!
“My favorite project I worked on was my cutting! The brands I featured included SPAM® classic, Hormel® Black Label® bacon and Jennie-O® ground turkey. I made baked SPAM® mac and cheese, bacon Buffalo chicken dip and Jennie-O® ground turkey walking tacos.”
After her successful first cutting, Anna Beth learned how to use Circana to create reports, and how to effectively communicate the results and findings during presentations.
Her favorite product is Hormel® Black Label® bacon.
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Emma Keenan, marketing intern, Corporate Office (Austin, Minnesota)
Emma spent her week getting more familiar with other locations and the processes they have.
She had the opportunity to visit the Pelican Rapids (Minnesota) Plant and saw how products are made in different facilities.
“It was cool to see the location-specific procedures that certain plants have, and I enjoyed seeing the different aspects of the company as well, in addition to the Global Headquarters.”
Emma’s favorite product is Hormel® Black Label® bacon.
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Zachary Ty Riedemann, communications intern at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minnesota)
Zachary continues to work on exciting projects. From getting his hands sticky as he represented Skippy® peanut butter at the USA Gymnastics Olympic trials to his writings hot off the grill in 360, Zach couldn’t have asked for a better learning experience.
“I am always on the go with once-in-a-lifetime experiences. With projects and meetings, I could not have asked for a better environment to try new things and be inspired. I have been given the opportunity to create a sales toolkit and to design signage for internal communications. I never know what will come next,” he said.
He is currently helping the HFilms team tape interviews and preparing for a summer photo shoot for social media.
Coming from a small agricultural town, he could never refuse his favorite product, Hormel® Black Label® bacon.
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Ava McHugh, corporate communications intern at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minnesota)
Ava has spent some of her week at the SPAM® Museum. She has been working on a project to create a content strategy plan for the museum’s social media channels and has been busy gathering pictures and information to feature.
“I’ve had so much fun learning about the history of not just the SPAM® brand, but Hormel Foods as a whole. Plus, I have an excuse to hang out at the museum and eat SPAM® samples all day!”
Apart from SPAM® classic, her favorite product is Dinty Moore® beef stew.
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Samara Rich, operations intern, Dold Foods (Wichita, Kansas)
Samara was able to spend some time learning about what it takes to ensure quality and safety during production in the plant.
This week, she walked through the processes, protocols and procedures for swabbing investigations and corrective actions.
“My favorite project I’ve worked on this week would have to be performing oven validations in our smokehouses.”
Samara loves Skippy® peanut butter.