Agronomic Product Development Intern

Investing in You, join a 100-year-old, family-owned leader in Ag – and grow with us!

Wilbur-Ellis invests heavily in our employees by offering skill development and training, competitive compensation and benefits, and a tradition of promoting from within for a broad range of career opportunities. And we foster a supportive, people-first work environment.

“We know the confidence gap can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply — we’d love to hear from you.”

Role Overview:

Are you looking for a hands-on internship that gives you a true, end-to-end view of how value-added agricultural products are created, tested, marketed, and delivered to growers? Are you curious about how science, operations, marketing, and field execution all connect to drive customer success?

Come work for Wilbur-Ellis, a company with more than 100 years of history—and where many senior leaders began their careers in internships just like this one. Make a difference, work with the best, and grow with us!

About the PLOT Internship Program:

Our PLOT (Professional Leaders of Tomorrow) Internship Program is a 12–16 week immersive learning experience designed to give students meaningful responsibility, exposure to leadership, and visibility across multiple areas of the business.

This internship is structured as a rotational experience within our Branded Technologies organization, giving you a complete understanding of how value-added agricultural products move from concept all the way to commercial success.

You’ll work on real projects, contribute to active initiatives, and present your insights to leadership at the end of the program. Successful completion of the PLOT Program may also qualify you for a $1,000–$3,000 scholarship.

A Sample of What You’ll Do in this Role:

You will rotate through five functional areas, spending approximately two weeks within each discipline:

Formulation & Product Chemistry

• Learn how value-added agricultural products are designed and optimized

• Explore ingredient selection, formulation challenges, and the science behind nutrient use efficiency

• Work directly alongside our formulation chemist

Manufacturing & Operations

• Gain exposure to manufacturing workflows, quality control, and supply chain

• Understand how products move from lab-scale concepts to field-ready materials

• Participate in packaging and operations planning activities

Marketing & Portfolio Management

• Support product positioning, messaging, and go‑to‑market planning

• Contribute to demand-creation activities and communication development

• Learn how product lifecycle and portfolio strategy shape commercial success

Field Research & Development

• Participate in field trials and research activities

• Assist with data collection, performance evaluation, and trial documentation

• See how research findings translate into agronomic credibility

Territory Management & Field Execution

• Spend time shadowing Territory Managers

• Learn how branded products are introduced to the field, from sales team alignment to customer conversations

• Understand real-world challenges, opportunities, and grower needs

Who We're Looking For: 

A motivated college student majoring in Ag Business, Agronomy, Chemistry, Marketing, Communications, or a related field. We’re especially excited about candidates who are curious, coachable, and passionate about agriculture and innovation.

Top qualities for this role:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Curiosity across multiple disciplines—from science to marketing

• A proactive and organized approach to learning

• Comfort working independently and with diverse teams

• Interest or experience in product development, field research, marketing, or applied science

• A growth mindset and desire to bring your best every day

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation for this position ranges from $21.30 to $28.42 per hour. Please note that wages may vary depending on skills and experience.  

Please note that salary ranges provided for this role on external job boards are salary estimates made by outside parties and may not be accurate.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

Diversity of people, cultures, opinions, and ideas makes us all stronger. From leadership commitment to employee buy-in, we know that creating an inclusive environment and providing opportunities for all employees to reach their full potential is a shared responsibility.

Wilbur-Ellis is a company you can be proud to call your employer

Wilbur-Ellis markets and distributes agricultural products, animal feed specialty chemicals, and food ingredients. A privately held and consistently profitable company, we employ more than 4,000 people throughout North America and Asia-Pacific.

Wilbur-Ellis is for and about people

Wilbur-Ellis has enjoyed over 100 years of success and growth, all thanks to our people. Our employees are both leaders and team players who thrive on creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and a dedication to quality work, our customers, and each other.

Wilbur-Ellis invests in the industry’s best workforce

Wilbur-Ellis invests heavily in our employees by offering skill development and training, competitive compensation and benefits, and a tradition of promoting from within for a broad range of career opportunities. And we foster a supportive, people-first work environment.

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