Today's interns are tomorrow's leaders, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' 2025 interns are no exception! We've been fortunate to have a great group of interns serving with us this summer in our internship program. They have gone above and beyond, working hard and showing of their skills. As a group, these interns were eager to help with department projects, no matter how large or small, with a positive attitude and willingness to learn in the moment. The department recognizes and celebrates our 2025 interns.
2025 MoDNR Interns
- Caleb Cooke
- Luke Crutchfield
- Morgan Farris
- Arden Fraley
- Eli Froning
- Caleb Grubbs
- Amanda Ivie
- James Meyer
- Madison Scott
- Abby Trachsel
- Zachary Weis
- John Westfall
Intern Spotlight
Our interns are essential to our MoDNR team! Below are a handful of examples, highlighting what our interns have been able to collaborate and accomplish this year.
Morgan Farris
Morgan assisted the Land Unit at the department's Northeast Regional Office. She helped them meet their planned number of Scrap Tire Collection Center inspections by conducting 50 inspections throughout northeast Missouri. Morgan also assisted staff in the field with other inspections and investigations. During an abandoned drum investigation, Morgan kept the drum log while staff labeled and inspected each drum. Her help during the investigation allowed staff to focus on what they were doing, making the situation safer and enabled a more organized investigation. Whether it is saving documents to the file, taking notes in the field, or reviewing documents, Morgan was always willing to help. It would be a pleasure to have her back!
Caleb Grubbs
Caleb helped the department's Southeast Regional Office conduct a compliance assistance project on former (closed) landfills. This involved scheduling and inspecting the current condition of the permitted sites, verifying accurate ownership/points of contact, and providing education on proper maintenance. His efforts benefitted our team by providing these permitted facilities the ability to be in compliance before a routine inspection. This negated follow-up of required actions of the typical inspection process, which typically has a shorter time-frame than allowed in this process. Caleb displays a "want" to make an impact and succeed.
Abby Trachsel
Abby helped the department's Water Pollution Program with various projects that differed in difficulty and scope. These projects included research, organizing data, and drafting documents. She exceled in every project we gave her.