What a week!! This week was by far the warmest weather we have had in Indiana all summer. In fact, Thursday was the first day it has reached 100 degrees in many years… Crazy to think being from Texas right?!

So with the weather in mind, add about 10-15 degrees, no breeze, and lots of humidity…. That is how it feels when you are walking in a corn field. I try not to complain, but I’m not going to lie. It was HOT and made for somewhat of a long week!

When I have days where all I do is scout fields, it is easy to feel a little bummed. Why? Because Chances are that when I walk fields all day, I have very little interaction with retailers, growers, etc and it truly makes me wonder if I am really adding value? While of course I know that I am because I am collecting valuable information, my true passion is people. I love the days where I get to interact and meet new people, and offer them products that are going to benefit their crops. Also, I know that as a Sales Rep, I will not be collecting data like I am now, so I cannot let this discourage me at all.

With that in mind, I am really excited about the next 4 weeks ahead of me. It is so hard to believe that my summer is quickly coming to an end. I have learned more than I could have ever imagined, gained extremely valuable experience, and realized that sales is something I truly love. I have learned about myself, I have become very used to “solitude” time living alone, and I have realized how much I value my friends and family back home in Texas. I am excited about the next few weeks because I have a lot of opportunity to really prove myself to Dow. I have been asked to speak at a conference, and I have meetings lined up to talk about “what’s next…?”

In addition, as I realize I am coming to the end of my internship with Dow, I present my final presentation and have my exit interview in a little over 2 weeks! YIKES! I know that it is truly crunch time and I am constantly thinking of how I am going to distinguish myself and set myself apart from the others? I am trying to come up with new ideas and little things I can do to continue to add value to my internship project as well as the company in general.

One last thought…..This has been one of the best experiences of my life! :)

This week... could not have started out any better!!

You might be asking, WHY? Well you see, my mom and Aunt Kelly came to Indy this past weekend to see me! It has been so long since I have seen a familiar face that it was definitely the most wonderful weekend I have had all summer long! We did lots of shopping, went kayaking, did a little site seeing, etc. Needless to say, how can one have a bad week after such a wonderful weekend?

This week was extra busy for me and I considered it super productive. I learned SO MUCH! I know how much you all love my weekly report updates…. J so here it is!

• Monday, July 11^th I used the morning to get in contact and make my appointments for the week. My mom was in town for the weekend so I also had to take her to the airport to fly back to Texas. I met David Martin Monday afternoon to pick up some banners and Dow signs as requested by Jamie Boone to be delivered to John Hutzinger with Ag Chemical Solutions in Hancock County later that afternoon.
• Tuesday, July 12^th, I went to Ag Best in Dunkirk to locate the Instinct plot they agreed to put out. I also met the grower of this field and collected all the information I needed. This plot is on a major road so I also put up a field sign. I then traveled to Harvest Land in Bryant where I picked up field posts and signed two of the Instinct fields they have also on busy roads. Lastly, I visited Harvest Land in Fountaintown where I met with Manager Todd Overmeyer. He provided me the contact information for a grower at his location that is going to have an Instinct trial for me.
• Wednesday, July 13^th I picked up field posts at the HQ office. I then traveled to CPS in Franklin and met with the new Manager, Keegan Carmony. He was previously the manager at Greensburg and so we discussed the plot he had at this location, as well as I dropped off some sale sheets for First Rate. Keegan also requested that I leave some Instinct field signs there with him, which I did. I then traveled to Premier Ag in St. Paul where I met with Manager Stu Hirt. I collected the Instinct data sheets from Stu that I had left the last time I was there, as well as I signed one of my fields. I then traveled to Attica where I met with a the grower who has the large N-Serve field for the CPS Attica location. I was able to collect all of the information of this plot, locate the field, and also notice a visual difference. These were the pictures I shared last week. I then traveled to CPS in Roachdale and also met with the new Manager Patrick McDonald, there. I spent a little bit of time getting to know him as well as getting in contact with the grower who has the Instinct side by side in Roachdale. I was unable to meet the grower, but that is scheduled for the coming week. Patrick also requested some Sure Start and Durango field signs which I will deliver early next week.
• Thursday, July 14^th was a unique day for me yet one of the most beneficial days all summer. I spent the day riding around with Jeff Nagle, Agronomist for Ceres Solutions. We met in Lafayette, located the Instinct plot he has out, and also took Spad Readings (to determine chlorophyll count in the plant leaves). The average was 46 with the Instinct, and 44.8 without. The rest of the day I got to travel with him on service calls and other visits to learn what his role consists of. We scouted around 8-10 fields throughout the day all of which I learned something new. I had the opportunity to study many different types of weeds, pest issues in both corn and soybeans, as well as several other various issues.
• Friday, July 15^th, Christy Penner and I traveled to Co-Alliance in Russelville to locate each of the plots we have at this location. Manager Ted McGaughey was unable to go with us, so he sent one of his other employees (Carey) to travel with us to locate each field. We have more than 10 plots with them so having someone help us locate each N-Serve and Instinct field was extremely helpful. Following this morning, we traveled to Paris, IL to meet Zach Ferguson to provide him the field posts that Christy and I picked up at HQ. We also discussed any issues we have had thus far, and the progress each of us has made on our Instinct project. When we left here, Christy and I then traveled back to the Russelville area to locate our last two fields that Carey was unable to take us by due to our time constraint.

It’s hard to believe that I only have 5 weeks left here. I will be glad to come back to my friends and family in Texas, but I will be sad to leave Indy and the job I have grown to love so much. Almost weekly I get asked the question “What do you enjoy the most?” While that is an extremely hard question, right now I have come to the conclusion that I absolutely LOVE learning so many new things each and every day. For example, this week alone I got to experience Indiana wind turbines, I saw mint being gown (I also saw some wild marijuana growing on the side of the road of which the city usually treats… they just missed a few spots!), visit a turkey production barn, I got to see various corn diseases and several severe cases of pest infestation in the crops when I was riding around with the Agronomist. I also made my very first visit to Illinois this week! My current state visit for this summer alone is up to 8! Not many people can say they have the opportunity to experience so many different types of production Agriculture as I have got to experience this summer… I am so blessed.

As far as the internship goes, I am getting to the point where I am not afraid to be that persistent sales person and I am not afraid to ask for a sale. My nice side often comes out when I don’t want to make anyone mad by calling several times, stopping by without calling, or asking them to try a product… but I have realized that in my job, that is the KEY to success. They know you are a salesman, so might as well do your job, right?

Until next week,

Macy

Hi Friends,

I write all of you this week a little bit bummed. You see, my mom and aunt came to Indianapolis to spend the weekend with me... now I am back to being all alone! The sadness didn't really hit me until I get back to my hotel and for the first time in 3 days, there is no one here again.... What did they tell me before they left though, "just remember, Macy... only 6 more weeks!"

While that comment brings up a really good point and good motivation, it is hard to believe that the summer is half way over. One thing is for sure, time sure does fly by.

Last week on the job, was one of my favorite and most productive yet. For one, I made yet another pretty big sale when a sale wasn't initially in order. I went to meet with a retailer to go find a field, and then went to pick up the farmer. While we accomplished the task we set out for, me the salesman, just couldn't settle there. So what are the end results of that.... selling one of our most profitable products! Yay! I am the type of person who likes to see the results of my hard work right away, and that is one thing I really enjoy about sales. Sometimes (this this particular case,) it may start out small, but eventually becomes large. So if they spray a chemical on 80 acres and like the way it works, most likely, the next year they will spray all of their acres. If you can ever just get a farmer to try your product, a good result is very likely. It's like they always say... start with baby steps.

Working by myself has been very fun, but also somewhat challenging. There is something to say about being familiar with all of the towns, and county's in a state. Do I know them in Indiana? Not really, but I am learning!

Each and every week I am learning a tremendous amount. I enjoy being an intern because I feel like most people are extremely willing to help me. For example, I also got to go to a layering barn last week. If you are unfamiliar with this, it is a barn where eggs are collected from. 200,000 birds in one barn! If you think that sounds crazy, well believe me, it is. I walked in and was just completely in awe of the production facilities and operations that took place in this one barn. It seems as if I am truly learning so much more about Agriculture outside of just corn and soybeans. The retailers enjoy showing and teaching me about Indiana Agriculture and all that is has to offer. These are not things I can do or see in Texas, which makes it that much more enjoyable.

I was talking with a friend the other day about our Individual Strengths. He asked me if one of mine was "learner" and I said no... After talking about it a while, we both agreed that we think our strengths are changing at the different parts in our life. For example, I think that if I took the strenghts finder assessment again today, I would have different results than when I took it last fall in ALED 301. Why is this? Because there are certain points in our life that force us to become different types of peoples. If I did not enjoy learning right now, I probably would not be very successful in this job.

Harmony was my top strength last time I took the assessment, and I would be willing to bet it is not my type strength today. If I worry to much about pleasing people and making sure everyone is 100% happy with me, I would not be doing my job. At the beginning of the summer, if a farmer wouldn't call me back after the first time, I would just get so frustrated and wouldn't want to call back in fear that I might step on someone's toes. Well guess what I've learned.... that method will get me no where! Anyways, just some food for thought, maybe I should take strengths finders again and find out! :)

Hope you all have a blessed week

-Macy

Hi Friends,

Last week was a really great and busy week. While I had to work extremely long hours on Thursday and Friday, it is always refreshing for my weekly schedule to be changed up a bit. On Thursday however, I did experience some extreme frustration when it took me 4 hours to get to a location that was only about a 45 minute drive… yes, I got very lost. What a day that was!

While I have included my weekly report as usual (be excited,) I also must say that this past week I really feel like I made some progress. This is the first week where I actually submitted some innovative suggestions and ideas to my District sales manager and the reps I work with. I am a firm believer that if you actively seek to complete your work, it is somewhat easy to be a “good” intern. Prior to starting the job, I told myself that I wanted to distinguish myself between a “good” intern, and a “great” intern. What does it take? Things such as last week, going above and beyond to really commit extra events and activites to make myself stick out just a little (hopefully I am accomplishing this!)

Lastly, I have really battled a war against time, and relationship development. For example, I often have customers calling me asking if I can stop by, when I there just the previous week. What I have to remind myself is that this is an awesome problem to have! Why? Because this means I am really accomplishing the relationship side of things versus only worrying about my tasks at hand. Aside from all of this, below is a weekly update.

Monday, June 27^th I spent the morning making phone calls to set up my week’s appointments. Following this, I traveled to Franklin to meet Jeff Cole for a lunch meeting and to pick up First Rate sale sheets from him. Leaving there I traveled to St. Paul where I met with Manager Stu Hirt. We discussed his 3 various plots and located one of them. We were unable to travel to the others due to the amount of rain received over the weekend. I left him information sheets to be filled out and he will be contacting me to come back by to pick them up and locate the remaining two fields. I then headed to Premier Ag in Hope and met with Manager Glen Shireman. I dropped off First Rate sale sheets and he also informed me that they were unable to get a plot put out this year. I also had the opportunity to attend the Indians game later this evening with a group from Illinois.

Tuesday, June 28^th I was able to get a thank you/postcard made with my picture designed and printed. I will be using these for the remainder of the summer. I also judged an event at the National Shorthorn Show for Shannon Kessler. Shannon is the Manager at CPS in Attica and is David Martin’s customer. Following the conclusion of the event, I spent the rest of the day getting caught up on entering my plot information into the excel document provided.

On Wednesday June 29^th, I traveled to Co-Alliance in Rushville to gain plots and met with Manager George Miller there. I collected plot information for three of his plots. In addition, I dropped off some sale sheets, looked at his sign inventory, and discussed some First Rate product information. Following this, I traveled north to meet with grower Jeff Amos and located and discussed his plot. I also put an Instinct sign in his field. He was very complementary of the Instinct product and I plan to collect a testimonial from him at a later date. To end the day I traveled to Helena in Dillsboro and met with the Manager of this branch. I also collected his plot information. His plot is comparing 8 different products so I am looking forward to working with him on this. He informed me that his plot is near Rushville and his intern has to scout the field every two weeks, so I will be getting in contact with him so that I can join him the next time he goes.

Thursday, June 30^th I went to Montgomery to meet with Brent Baker from Traylor Fertilizer. We visited the two plot locations that his grower has. I assisted him in taking tissue samples as well. This was a neat and simple experience that I had never done, and I enjoyed learning how tissue samples are collected. I then headed back to Indy to pick up the story boards for the Dow AgroSciences Show Plot as requested by Casey Onstot. I spent the rest of the day and evening working there. We put up posts, story boards, and constructed other materials to be used there.

Friday, July 1^st, I arrived back at the Dow Show Plot at 6am to begin working there for the day. We put the hybrid stickers on the Mycogen field signs amongst many other things. I enjoyed working with the team at the plot for these two days.

Until next week, be blessed!

-Macy