Education is our mission. Every summer, Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard hosts internship opportunities. Each intern develops their own project to complete during their summer educational experience to help Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard provide great experiences for visitors.
Originally from Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Rachel is a junior secondary education major at Peru State College. Having grown up visiting Kimmel Orchard, she's excited to give back by creating a History Through Apples display that makes our orchard's story more engaging and easier for guests of all ages to explore.
If you see Rachel around the orchard this summer, be sure to give her a warm welcome!
Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Kelty is a senior journalism major at the University of Minnesota. Having grown up visiting Kimmel Orchard, she's excited to help share the stories that make this place so special. This summer, she'll be creating social media content and helping grow Kimmel's TikTok presence.
Be sure to say hi if you see Kelty capturing content around the orchard this summer!
Originally from Weeping Water, Nebraska, Seth is a senior agronomy major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Growing up nearby and hearing about the internship from Trey made Kimmel feel like the perfect fit. This summer, he's helping keep our garden beds looking their best while working to improve orchard practices behind the scenes.
If you spot Seth out in the orchard this summer, be sure to say hello!
Originally from Oakland, Iowa, Cayla is a senior secondary education major at Peru State College. She first discovered Kimmel Orchard when Dena and Justin visited Peru State's career fair, and this summer she's putting her creativity to work planning A Night in Bloom. Her goal is to create an event that's engaging, memorable, and full of fun for our guests.
Be sure to say hello if you see Cayla around the orchard this summer!
Intern Alumni
Our alumni interns from previous years.
Trey is a new UNL graduate of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources with a degree in Plant & Landscape Systems. He will be working to increase educational & learning opportunities in the 17 gardens which make up the Kimmel Certified Pollinator Habitat. Watch the Kimmel website, kimmelorchard.org, for exciting new information about Trey's landscape project. Fun fact: Trey is a proud owner of an Australian Shephard.
Evie is a junior Advertising & Public Relations major in the College of Journalism & Mass Communications at UNL. She will be focusing her time at Kimmel on event operations. A farm-to-table dinner will be her summer project where she will work with area chefs to incorporate a Kimmel fruit into the unique fresh from the farm menu. Evie will also lend her skills to social media and photography for summer events. Fun fact: Evie was a Christmas baby.
Cayla is a junior at Peru State College studying math education. This is Cayla's third year working at Kimmel. She worked in the Apple Barn store the last two seasons. Her focus during her summer internship is creating interactive education stations throughout the orchard for adults and children to learn more about growing fruit, the importance of pollinators, and the animals who call the orchard home. Cayla will also be working as a Kimmel Educational Tour guide sharing the Kimmel history and orchard operations with guests.
Emily has returned for a third year at Kimmel. She is a senior at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln majoring in Agriculture Leadership Education & Communications. Emily is a tour guide for Kimmel Educational Tours and is designing learning content and learning activities for Kimmel Kids Club. Emily will also be working on the Education Jamboree for the Applejack Festival and the Kimmel Ag Career Day preparations. Fun fact: Emily is a 7th generation rancher.
Danielle has returned for a second year at Kimmel. She is a senior at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln majoring in Advertising & Public Relations in the College of Journalism & Mass Communications. This summer she is focusing on developing videos and followers on the Kimmel TikTok account. Danielle will also work on increasing social media engagement on Facebook & Instagram. Danielle is a Houston native, whose parents both attended UNL. Fun fact - Danielle plays the guitar.
Miriam is a student at Concordia University, Seward, NE majoring in Environmental Science and Music. Miriam is refreshing the landscape beds surrounding the Kimmel Education & Research Center at Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard as her intern project. She is gaining experience with landscaping, design, and management. Her favorite Kimmel Apple Barn product is the Apple Cider Slushie. Fun fact - Miriam plays the melodica. While working at Kimmel, she is participating as a member of the Southeast Nebraska Community Band.
Grace is a sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in Agriculture Education. Grace has focused on assisting with the plans for Christmas at Kimmel and event plans for the 100-year anniversary in 2025. Fun fact - Grace doesn't like hotdogs.
Asher is a Lincoln native who is majoring in Hospitality Management. Asher will be coordinating an Ice Cream event in July. Other events and activities that Asher will be involved with over the summer are U-Pick Fresh Fruit events, Donut Fest, and the inaugural Scarecrow Festival.
Quentin is an Iowa State University student majoring in Agriculture and Life Sciences Education. In his internship he will be learning about the basics of orchard operations by assisting with the seasonal activities related to growing fruit. Quentin has been involved in many leadership roles at college including Iowa State Student Government.
Allison is from Scottsbluff, Nebraska. She will be a sophomore in the fall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. At college, she is double majoring in Agribusiness and Agriculture Education and minoring in the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program. Over the next few months, Allison will be working with General Manager Jennie Tachovsky to learn what it takes to run Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard and other aspects of marketing and business operations.
My name is Alyssa Rosenbaum, and I am the Education and Food Safety Intern for the summer. I am originally from Sioux City, Iowa, and have never been to Nebraska City before! I am a senior at Iowa State University, double majoring in Culinary Food Science and Horticulture. My passion for cooking and gardening drove me to major in both of these areas. In my free time, I enjoy cooking and baking new recipes. At all family events, I am in charge of making the desserts. I also enjoy golfing and being outdoors. This summer, I am most excited to learn how an orchard operates and the food safety aspects that go into running one. I am also excited to taste the famous apple donuts everyone keeps telling me about. I can’t wait to experience the Kimmel Orchard all summer!
After graduating from a small town in Minnesota, Ashley went out of state to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. This internship has allowed Ashley to see the business operations side of planning a large festival or a small visiting tour group. Ashley has plans to graduate in December with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality, Restaurant, and Tourism Management and hopefully be able to travel in her future career.
Hello! My name is Cara Booth. I am the Orchard Operations intern at Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard this summer. I was born and raised in Nebraska City, so I am excited to get back to my roots and maintain the orchard that has been in my life since childhood. I’m a junior studying Environmental Science and Chemistry at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. My role in the orchard will include harvesting the crops, giving tours of the orchard, and a variety of other small projects. Aside from working at the orchard, I enjoy taking care of my own plants, reading, and baking!
Dalena recently graduated with a double major in Global Resources Systems and horticulture from Iowa State University. She is originally from Linden, Iowa. As the Orchard Operations intern, she will work firsthand with the orchard team every day. She's excited to learn more about fruit crop production and to further her horticultural experience.
Emily is a junior at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, majoring in Agricultural Communications. She grew up in her family's feedlot, which is where she found her love for agriculture. She's excited to work in a different sector of ag as she focuses on connecting consumers with where their produce comes from through educational posts on Kimmel's social media and website. She also works to promote different events here at the orchard and to market new products. In Emily's free time, she enjoys going to country concerts and spending time at home in Wisner with her family.
Emma will be a senior in the fall at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Her goal is to work on developing nutritional and sustainable diets for small mammals or dogs post-graduation. At the orchard, Emma is responsible for implementing a HACCP plan, developing recipes, and educating the public about the orchard. She is excited to make new connections and experience everything she's been learning about in the classroom.
Joe is from Drummond, a small town in northern Wisconsin. He will be a junior at Purdue University this fall. He is majoring in Agriculture Education with a minor in Portuguese. This summer, Joe will work with Jennie Tachovsky, the General Manager, on educational opportunities and programs at Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard.
Johanna is from New Ulm, a town in South-Central Minnesota. The upcoming fall is her last semester at the University of Minnesota-Crookston. She is majoring in Horticulture, with an emphasis in Greenhouse Production and Environmental Landscaping. This summer, Johanna is working with Jesse in the orchard. She is excited to learn the ins and outs of managing an orchard!
Kate Schoenberg is our Landscape Operations intern all the way from Kansas State University. Her focus is on landscape design and maintenance here at Kimmel. She loves teaching kids about pollinators and how important they are to our daily lives. In her free time, she likes to read, paint, knit, and care for her house plants.
Madison is from Syracuse, Nebraska. She will be a sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this coming fall. She is majoring in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication and double minoring in the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program and Broadcasting with the Media option. This summer, Madison will also be working with General Manager Jennie Tachovsky on creating videos for Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard.