Taking Texas to the outback
Texas A&M animal science student uses international internship to inspire career vision
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Owen Sanders ’27 grew up with dreams of cattle drives and the cowboy way of life, but three months into an internship at one of the largest cattle operations in Australia, the reality of a life as a cowboy in the outback was better than he could imagine.
A student in the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science, Sanders traded the familiar landscape of Central Texas for 2 million acres of red dirt, gidgee bush and cattle as far as he could see. He was the only American intern on the crew of more than 20 Australians, working cattle from sunrise to sunset alongside experienced and talented “ringers.”
“It has been the highest impact learning experience in my life,” Sanders said. “I actually lived out the things I learned about.”
An experiential classroom
Sanders grew up showing livestock and competing in leadership and competitive events through FFA and Texas 4-H, and learning about the livestock industry through his time on the 4-H Livestock Ambassador program. This built a strong foundation of knowledge and experience in the livestock industry.
Through Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences classes, an internship at BRC Ranch, and a minor in agribusiness entrepreneurship, he learned he needed more firsthand experience on larger-scale operations to prepare for his career goals in the cattle industry.
“I had a vision for the impact I wanted to make on the cattle industry,” Sanders said. “And I knew this experience was a necessary step to broaden my understanding of worldwide livestock production.”
With guidance from David Riley, Ph.D., professor of animal breeding and genetics in the department, Sanders shifted his focus to Australia. Riley recognized that the Australian production system would offer the scale and structure Sanders was seeking.
With Riley’s help and industry connections, Sanders secured an internship with the Australian Agricultural Company, AACo, and booked a flight to Queensland.
“It has been the highest impact learning experience in my life. I actually lived out the things I learned about.”
Owen Sanders
Class of 2027
In the saddle and on the job
At Headingly Station, the expansive paddock where his internship was located, there was rarely a slow day. Sanders spent his time sorting, vaccinating, castrating and dehorning cattle.
The operation was too vast to manage on foot, so the team relied on horses, dirt bikes and helicopters to gather and move cattle across the property. Sanders worked primarily on horseback, learning quickly that keeping up required both skill and instinct.
“Their system is faster and efficiency-driven,” Sanders said. “You have to learn quickly to keep up.”
AACo is one of the largest beef producers in the world, managing every stage of production from the pasture to the plate and marketing Wagyu beef to both domestic and international markets. For Sanders, watching that system in motion reframed a lot of what he knew about the cattle industry.
“Seeing their production system showed me more efficient ways to accomplish tasks,” he said. “It gave me a perspective I didn’t even know existed.”
Where the classroom meets the range
The Department of Animal Science emphasizes high-impact learning experiences, including internships, competitive teams, research and study abroad opportunities. These experiences allow students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings.
The internship tested Sanders in ways that went beyond horsemanship and cattle handling. He navigated homesickness, a demanding schedule and the pressure of proving himself in an unfamiliar environment and came out the other side with a clearer sense of direction.
“It was a combination of gaining knowledge, building experience and doing something adventurous,” he said.
He credits the experience largely to the mentorship he found from Riley and the department and encourages other students not to wait for opportunities to find them.
“Don’t be timid in the pursuit of your career,” he said. “Talk to your professors. They want to help you succeed and have the connections and resources to do so.”
After graduation, Sanders plans to build his own operation, applying what he learned in Australia to help shape how he approaches production, efficiency and the global beef market.
“Experiences like this are what set the department apart,” Sanders said. “They don’t just teach you the industry; they put you in it and challenge you to come back ready to improve it.”
Beyond the classroom
Discover more than 100 high-impact learning opportunities in the Department of Animal Science that help students build leadership, gain experience and prepare for careers in animal agriculture.
