Avery Smith
"I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn.
Therefore, I believe in work, hard work." - The Auburn Creed
Auburn University
I have held several positions at the university during my undergraduate career. As a Supplemental Instruction leader, I led students twice weekly through targeted study sessions. As a Teaching Assistant, I was responsible for monitoring students and ensuring safe conditions were met as they interacted with young, untrained horses. As a College of Agriculture Peer Mentor, I helped Student Services connect with students and ensure that their needs were met, including holding office hours, interacting with prospective students and their parents, and assisting with recruiting events.
Most recently, I have been working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant for Dr. Amit Morey, whose focus is Poultry Processing and Products. In this position I perform many duties associated with Graduate Research Assistants, including performing research, maintaining the laboratory, operating processing machinery and laboratory instruments, processing data, presenting at conferences, and assisting with department events. For more information, please visit my research page here.
Sanderson Farms, Inc.
During my position as a Processing Intern at Sanderson Farms, I gained hands-on experience in each department of the poultry processing plant, including receiving, hanging, picking, USDA inspection, evisceration, deboning, packing, and shipping at a facility that processes about 45,000 birds daily. This provided an excellent way to learn the process and daily operation of a poultry processing facility. Additionally, I found that I enjoy the pace and personality of processing environments.
Local Businesses
As a server, cook, and cashier at Ruby Tuesday and Steak 'N Shake, my communication skills definitely came in handy. I worked as part of large and diverse teams and often needed to think quickly to work through issues with guests or coworkers while minimizing conflicts. I take pride in having a reputation of being a hard and reliable worker. I thoroughly enjoyed the fast pace of restaurant work and ensuring that guests were met with a pleasant experience.
Altamont Sport Horses
At Altamont Sport Horses, a breeding and training farm where I worked during breaks for 4 years, I was responsible for the care of approximately 50 horses over two farms, including stallions, broodmares, youngstock, sales and show horses. I worked both independently and with various coworkers, and coordinated with suppliers to schedule delivery of feed, hay, and bedding. I established and maintained detailed records of each horse, and ensured that each received hoof care, deworming, dental care, vaccinations and veterinary care as appropriate. Additionally, I customized feed and supplements to meet the unique needs of each horse, including some special needs (insulin resistant, post surgery, and foundered). I acted as a foaling attendant and was present during or shortly after foaling for many of the 20+ foals produced during my time at Altamont. I have been heavily responsible for the handling, halter breaking, trailer loading and general ground training of many of the youngstock. While this position offered many unique challenges, I highly value this enormous experience in self-motivation, horse experience, innovative thinking, organization, and hard work.