Mackenzie Mattern

718 8th Avenue

Brookings, SD 57006

(605) 520-9294

EDUCATION

South Dakota State University Anticipated graduation date of May 2018

Bachelor of Science- Horticulture 3.5 Grade Point Average

Qualifications Summary

  • Third year of Horticulture courses at South Dakota State University including: Arboriculture, Forest Ecology, Trees Identification, Woody Shrubs Identification, Herbaceous Identification, Turf/weed Identification and Management, Soils, Entomology, Horticulture Diseases, Horticulture Pests, Greenhouse Management, Local Food Production, Fruit Crop Systems, Organic Vegetable Production, Berry Production, Environmental Stewardship, Landscape Nursery Management,and Global Food Systems
  • Raised $10,000 for a study abroad experience in Bolivia by managing various fundraising campaigns

SKILLS

  • Proven team playerand excellent leadership skills
  • Good interpersonal communication skills
  • Passion for learning new skills
  • Punctual and precise, good time management skills
  • Great attention to detail

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Summer Intern- Blue Dasher Farm, Estelline, SDMay 2017– August 2017

  • Maintaining time sensitive schedules
  • Collection of soil samples
  • Collection and identification of field, hive and, soil insects
  • Maintaining Lady Beetle, Monarch Butterfly, and Skipper Colonies
  • Data documentation
  • Set up and tear down of experiment protocol
  • Identification of common bee hive pests
  • Honey collection and cleaning
  • Application of Varroa Mite to hives
  • Propagation, maintenance, and transplanting of shrubs and property nursery stock
  • Feeding and Watering of chickens
  • Successional movement of sheep to available forage
  • Installing drip irrigation
  • Build and maintenance of trellis for garden

Undergraduate Research-SDSU, Brookings, SD May 2016 – Current

  • Griffith Undergraduate Research Grant received for independent research
  • Maintaining time sensitive schedules
  • Creation and collection of “bee bowls”
  • Insect collection and identification
  • Pinning samples and creation of voucher collection
  • Data documentation
  • Set up and tear down of experiment protocol
  • Application of statistical analysis
  • Developed general thesis pertaining to research
  • Spoke at AgPioneer Days sponsored by the state of South Dakota

Biological Technician Aid-SDSU, Brookings, SD May 2015 – Current

  • Watering plants
  • Planting soy for experiments
  • Maintaining greenhouse cleanliness and use
  • Maintaining experiments
  • Collection of soil samples
  • Insect collection and identification
  • Pinning samples
  • Outdoor and greenhouse data collection
  • Data documentation
  • Effective communication skills with other staff
  • Developed excellent inter personal skills with younger staff
  • Documenting inventory and waste

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Bartender- Sully’s Irish Pub, Brookings SD December 2016 – Current

  • Practice and implementation of POS (Point of Sale) system
  • Effective communication skills with guests and other staff
  • Documenting lost and found items
  • Verifying till amounts
  • Maintained schedule for higher personnel
  • Answered phone promptly
  • Created clean and fun workplace for guests and other employees
  • Swept, mopped and cleaned windows effectively
  • Documenting inventory and waste
  • Maintaining standards of FDA (Food and Drug Administration)

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

South Dakota Department of Forestry, Custer SD21 hours of service

  • Mountain pine beetle management
  • Strip cruises and forest density analysis
  • Determined DBH
  • Infection identification and treatment

Brookings Rural Action, Brookings SD30 hours of service

  • Urban Chicken Advocate
  • Door to door canvassing
  • Phone bank calling

FoodTopia Farms, Toronto SD35 hours of service

  • Butchering, cleaning and packaging chickens
  • Prepare, plant, and harvest garden stock
  • Setting up trellises for beans & tomatoes

Local Foods Center, Brookings SD65 hours of service

  • Prepare and plant various crops in greenhouse
  • Prepare, plant and transplant plugs into field crop
  • Weed and pest managementusing organic resources
  • Fertilizer application
  • Helped develop successional planting plan
  • Installation of drip irrigation
  • Created and maintained planting beds
  • Developed marketing plan for crops

INVOLVEMENT

  • Horticulture Club Officer President (May 2017 – Present), Vice-President (May 2016 – May 2017)
  • Pi Alpha Xi National Horticulture Society member
  • SDSU Alpha Zeta Agricultural Honor Fraternity member