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TCGA Intern Reports And Q&A The interns sent in their reports, and TCGA sat down with both of them to get an insider’s perspective on their summer and experience with the TCGA Internship program. This Q&A allowed the organization to gain a better understanding of what the interns thought of the job and the industry. Wesley Neuendorff ’s Report As the TCGA internship ends, I have learned so much from all the different gin managers who keep up with the task of maintaining and operating a cotton gin in Texas. The internship was very unusual as we were barely able to start up and gin cotton at United-Ag Co-op in Danevang, Texas, before my internship concluded on Aug. 15. With this setback, we also encountered numerous shutdowns because of a blown fan motor, minor electrical issues and two air valve failures Wesley near the press box. Neuendorff Hurricane Beryl set back the production and start up time in the El Campo area, but I was able to see cotton ginned in the final week of the internship. I was also
fortunate enough to go to Odem, Texas, to watch Coastal Ag Cooperative (formerly Smith Gin Co-op) operate where I was able to get a taste of how to run and manage a large-scale gin. Cotton ginning is a very time-consuming job with a lot of different variables that must work right or the gin will have to shut down for a moment, which is extremely costly to do. When talking to Tyler Cross at the Coastal Ag Co-op, he gave me good insight into how he keeps a smooth-running operation and does all the book work associated with marketing the cotton, cottonseed, motes and cotton trash. The final two weeks of the internship were busy. The days were long, but the experience was priceless. I would like to thank Aaron Nelsen for this opportunity, the Windstar Group in West Texas and the United-Ag Co-op staff for hosting us at the cotton gin and getting real hands-on experience. Q: Knowing all that you know now, would you do it again? A: I would! Unfortunately, my time down south would have looked different had Beryl not come through, but I did enjoy my time regardless. It was also great getting to be up in the Panhandle and getting to know all the folks up there. Q: What did you enjoy most about the program?
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