Six interns from three different universities arrived to Magdalena the end of May to begin their 10 week internship. They will be spending their time leading animal practices and teaching classes where they will be helping the kids get their projects completed for the 2019 Expo Esperanza to be held the first week in August.

April Hamilton, South Dakota State University

April is from Hitchcock, South Dakota. She is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Leadership at South Dakota State University. April’s responsibilities this summer include Sheep and Chicken classes as well as Photography and Sewing. She also will be assisting with Drawing and Painting.

Carson Sleep, South Dakota State University

Carson is from Spearfish, South Dakota. He is a junior at South Dakota State University with a Major in Agricultural Business. His teaching responsibilities this summer include teaching classes in Cattle Showmanship, Industrial Arts, Singing and Rocketry.

Dawson Carter, Purdue University

Dawson is from Veedersburg, Indiana. He is a junior at Purdue University majoring in Animal Sciences with a concentration in Bio-sciences. This summer he is teaching Sheep, Industrial Arts, Rocketry and Gardening.

Mandy Hasselbring, Purdue University

Mandy is from Greensburg, Indiana and is studying Animal Science at Purdue University. She will be teaching Cattle, Painting/Colored Pencil and Drawing classes and assisting with Cocina classes during the summer.

Mary Sarah Sauber, South Dakota State University

Mary Sarah is from Motley, Minnesota. She has just finished her senior year at South Dakota State University studying Animal Science and Agriculture Science. She will share her skills teaching Horse Showmanship, Barrels and Demonstration classes. She will also be assisting in Performing Arts and Photography.

McKenna Moffitt, Murray State University

McKenna is from from Atlanta, Georgia and attends Murray State University. She is a junior pursuing a degree in Agricultural Education. This summer she is teaching Barrel racing and Horse showmanship and classes in Entomology, Dance, and Painting.

We are seeing sunny weather…actually, HOT weather and feels like we skipped right over spring. Below is a little glimpse of Fatted Calf life this past month.

Rancho Agua Viva

Although RAV manager, Joel Leman and his wife Kristi and kids are able to get away for sabbatical, it’s business as usual for the ranch. Cattle are grazing freshly irrigated grass, cows are checked in the mountains, and irrigation tubes and electric fences are moved daily for rotational grazing.

Carnisimo and Carnisimo Burgers

As often as Casa Vida y Esperanza hosts work team, we are privileged to have them visit us in Magdalena. Duane gave a tour of the Carnisimo meat plant to a work team from Bluffton, IN. After the tour, they enjoyed burgers and fries in the back patio of Carnisimo Burgers.

Expo Community Service

Expo participants are given various community service activities to participate in throughout the year. On a Saturday morning, we met at the home of one of Expo’s families to pick up garbage in their neighborhood.

Intern Program

Former intern Miranda Gerrard, came back to Magdalena to re-connect with some of the kids she worked with in 2012. She supervised horse riding activities and helped the kids brush up on their old skills and learn new ones.

This summer we are set to have 6 summer interns. The college students from Murray State University, Purdue University, and South Dakota State University are due to arrive the end of May. A lot of planning is underway to match their talents with the projects that the kids at CVE are interested in. Amanda’s been busily preparing the Expo Project Class and Summer Specials offerings.

It would seem like we are able to report a variety of happenings in just a short month’s time. There are a lot of working parts in the big picture of the mission. With all of the physical work, efforts, planning, and coordinating involved, it is only with God’s blessing that we can do our little part.

“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”

— Psalm 127:1

2019 Summer Interns are here!