Growing Together – A New Partnership with Milaeger’s

Our partnerships with Occupational Experience (OE) sites provide valuable opportunities for Shepherds College® students. One of our newest sites for Horticulture is Milaeger’s, a nursery and gardening center located in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. The partnership began when Shepherds College staff visited Milaeger’s and met with the General Manager, Paul Sikorski. Paul was excited to learn about our program and enthusiastic about Milaeger’s partnering with Shepherds College. They also opened their doors for field trips, enabling students to tour the greenhouses and garden center to see first-hand the tasks employees perform at the store. These tasks include watering plants, tagging and restocking plants on shelves, sweeping the greenhouse, displaying Christmas decorations, and organizing clothing. Paul has also served as a guest speaker, sharing information about the Horticulture field with first-year students to help them decide which major to select.

Katie and Rebecca, graduates of 2023, completed their Occupational Experience at Milaeger’s in the spring. When they initially tried out for the positions, Paul was delighted with their friendly demeanors and ready to hire them on the spot. He provided them with bright red Milaeger’s aprons and magnetic name tags. The students were thrilled with this welcome, and any nerves were alleviated as they demonstrated their watering skills for their tryout, using a hose to water shrubs and trees in the sales yard.

Once Rebecca and Katie officially began interning at Milaeger’s, they were surprised at how much they learned in the short season leading up to graduation. They both felt better prepared for future jobs in a garden center or greenhouse due to their time there. Not only did the two students learn more about plants as they helped organize and tag them, but they also became more comfortable providing customer service – talking with customers and helping them find answers to their questions. They also grew in areas of self-advocacy and conflict resolution. Paul recounted an instance when Rebecca became frustrated with another staff member during a project, and returning to the team to display an en dash.

Rebecca and Katie worked together on this project and had different perspectives on how it should be accomplished. Paul could tell that each of them was passionate about the project! Once Rebecca brought the situation to Paul’s attention, he assisted them in overcoming their different viewpoints, and they were able to move forward.

By the end of the spring season, the students and staff at Milaeger’s had become a team.

By the end of the spring season, the students and staff at Milaeger’s had become a team. The staff gave Katie and Rebecca a send-off during their last shift by gathering together and giving them a round of applause. The students were overwhelmed with gratitude and hugged each coworker, thanking them for the opportunity to work alongside them.

Milaeger’s is not only providing excellent internship experience for Shepherds College students, but they also support us by hiring our alums. They currently employ one of our graduates, Dale, from the Class of 2021. Dale keeps plants watered, cleaned, and cared for in the Milaeger’s greenhouse.

In addition to providing job opportunities for Shepherds College students, Paul also serves on the horticulture advisory board for the college. This board of representatives from local agricultural businesses offers advice and suggestions to our Horticulture department. Paul has assisted our department in improving our program by offering his knowledge about plants and trends in the industry, including popular plants, ideas for arrangements, and pest control.

Beginning next spring, two students, Maria and Sarah, from the class of 2024, will start their Occupational Experience at Milaeger’s. Both students performed well during their tryout last spring, working hard to sweep the greenhouse, clean dead leaves, spent flower blossoms, and dirt from the aisles, and show care in staying out of customers’ way as they shopped. Paul was impressed with how much they covered during a two-hour tryout—they almost completed cleaning the entire greenhouse. Sarah and Maria are looking forward to this hands-on learning opportunity to gain new job skills, and we are excited to continue the Milaeger’s team for the upcoming spring season.