Allie Orr, a 2026 Iowa State University graduate, spent her summer as an operations intern at Grand View Beef. Allie is from Woodward, Iowa, where she grew up on a small cow-calf operation. This experience sparked her interest in studying animal science at Iowa State.
As an operations intern at Grand View Beef, Allie's responsibilities included daily cattle care, paddock monitoring, moving cattle as needed, assisting with hay, oat and oatlage harvests, attending farm-to-table dinners and selling beef.
When asked about her internship, Allie explained that interacting with customers was her favorite part of the experience.
“Selling beef directly from the farm, harvested from animals we raised, to people at farmers markets, or online was a very unique experience,” she said.
Outside her daily responsibilities, Allie gained knowledge in entrepreneurship, business management, regenerative agriculture and overall grass management. She explained that Knute and Amanda, the owners of Grand View Beef, made it a priority to discuss the ins and outs of their business.
While reflecting on her experience, Allie explained how the internship shaped her perspective on agriculture and her future career goals.
“This internship helped me learn how large of a gap there is between farmers and consumers. In my future career, I want to help bridge this gap. I want people to know more about what goes into their food and what it takes to put food on their plate.”
Written by: Leah Reicher (Oct. 2026)