Student Work Opportunities
Berry College encourages work experience as part of every student's development. This unique work program originated with the founding of the college, when all students worked to pay their college expenses. The combination of academics and work experience enhances the student's ability to obtain employment after graduation. In addition, the values learned from a worthwhile work ethic can be an asset to students throughout their lives.
The Animal Science department provides you with the opportunity to gain "hands-on" work experience while you are studying in a formal classroom setting. Students have the opportunity to work at the Gunby Equine Center, Rollins Beef Center, Normandy Dairy Center, and Westcott greenhouses and gardens. Additional experience can be gained through internships, cooperative-education opportunities, and research conducted within the department. You should consult with your advisor and the career-development office about these possibilities.
Gunby Equine Center
The Gunby Equine Center employs 12 to 15 student workers per semester.
Physical facilities: 185-acre equine unit, 180 acres of pasture, 50 stalls, storage buildings, covered arena with offices and classroom, outdoor lighted arena, 70' round-pen, 60 college-owned horses (predominantly quarter horse and thoroughbred).
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, daily feeding and care of college-owned horses, routine veterinary care and management, breeding (artificial insemination and live cover), foaling, and maintenance of facility and equipment.
Rollins Ruminant Research Center - Beef
The Rollins Ruminant Research Center employs 15 to 20 student workers per semester
Physical facilities: A total of approximately 100 brood cows consisting of a purebred Angus herd and a smaller commercial herd are maintained on 500 acres of pasture. An additional 85-acres of land are utilized for the production of coastal Bermuda hay. The Rollins Center itself consists of a number of buildings including a classroom/field laboratory, offices and vehicle maintenance, tool and implement storage facilities. The Rollins Center barn has extensive dry-lot and livestock working facilities to accommodate requirement for the academic and research programs. Several additional livestock working and storage facilities are strategically located to optimize animal management with minimal stress and transport. A flock of approximately 30 sheep consisting of both Suffolk and Katahdin ewes are also supported and maintained by the Rollins Center Beef Cattle Unit.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, daily feeding and care of beef cattle and sheep, routine veterinary care and management, breeding (estrus detection and artificial insemination), calving and lambing, hay production, as well as maintenance of the facility and equipment.
Rollins Ruminant Research Center - Dairy
The Rollins Ruminant Research Center employs over 70 student workers per semester
Physical facilities: 50- acre unit, 30 irrigated acres of pasture, 4 in line Germania AfiMilk Parlor, 30 stall free stall barn, flush manure system, lagoon, irrigation system, and calf barn. The Parlor has observation windows and a deck for guests to observe the milking procedure. The Dairy is located on Rollins Road just west of the Ford Buildings.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, daily milking, feeding and care of mature lactating cows as well as calves and heifers, ration formulation, routine veterinary care and management, and breeding (artificial insemination).
Horticulture Greenhouses and Gardens
The horticulture greenhouses and gardens employ 12 to 14 student workers per semester.
Physical facilities: 6,000 square feet of greenhouses, 1,000 square feet of shade house, 775 square feet of headhouse (work area), 9,000 square feet of irrigated nursery area, and 3.5 acres of ornamental and vegetable gardens.
Opportunities abound for the students of Berry's Horticultural Services, which is comprised of four student work teams and two staff supervisors, providing excellent opportunities in student work and community service. The facilities of Horticultural Services include a 42' x 96' Dutch Venlo greenhouse with a 21' x 36' attached headhouse, a 28' x 48' Quonset greenhouse, and a 28' x 36' Quonset shade house.
Twelve to fourteen students work with Horticultural Services in the greenhouses and on the Kilpatrick commons. All students are cross-trained, gaining meaningful work experience and providing essential labor in the unit. As students graduate and leave Berry employment, supervisors are always hiring new students to fill team positions. All Berry students seeking employment are encouraged to apply, and those with a farming background make particularly strong candidates.