INTERNSHIPS

By Adam Thoms , Ph . D ., Stephen Lord , CSFM , and Weston Appelfeller , CSFM

Just like other careers , the sports field management industry relies heavily on the internship process . Skills learned on the field can help supplement knowledge learned in the classroom , and , in many cases , set an individual apart from others . Finding the correct internship can be a bit of tricky process , but with any luck an internship will be one that you will grow from professionally while learning new skills . Being an active member in the STMA can help you meet people who will set you up with excellent internships . Attend the national STMA Conference and Exhibition , and meet as many people as you can . If you can ’ t attend the national conference , attend the local chapter events or look at the listings on the STMA website . Also , start early , especially if you have a specific opportunity in mind . Many students start looking for an internship in October / November . If you are new to the turfgrass industry and have never worked an internship , consider an opportunity where you can learn as many new skills as possible , over perhaps just working at a facility

14 SportsField Management | May 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com