First Stage Wool Processing Intern
SHEAR Internship Program 2025
Student Hands-on Education and Research Program
Goal
Our goal for the 2025 MMW internship program is to immerse students into the wool textile industry by offering an interactive learning experience where students will have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn about the entire wool process from scouring through knitting. This is an exciting chance to learn about the unique differences in wool types, gain first-hand processing knowledge, and learn about value-added agriculture business and marketing.
About Mountain Meadow Wool
Mountain Meadow Wool was established in 2007 to provide traceability to the quality wool produced in Wyoming and the rest of the United States and in doing so provide premiums to wool producers to help them be sustainable. In 2019 a state-of-the-art flatbed knitting operation was added enabling MMW to take raw wool to finished garments all under one facility. In 2023 MMW added a commercial dye line and color matching laboratory further advancing its capabilities and positioning it as a premier provider of wool processing services in the United States. MMW processes wool from all parts of the USA and Canada.
Role Description
Mountain Meadow Wool is one of the only vertically integrated worsted mills in the United States, which will give the student a unique opportunity to see the entire lifecycle of commercial wool processing. MMW’s cradle to cradle manufacturing model will equip students to understand the introductory processes and creativity needed to operate a sustainable manufacturing system.
Education in wool processes will gradually give way to hands on R&D where students will engage in a summer project that will involve creating a strategy to market a specific value-added agriculture item to stakeholders in the ag industry. Other, shorter-term projects include creating social media campaigns, production data analysis/entry, and researching industry trends to identify upcoming opportunities. These projects look to provide students with experience in various competencies such as agriculture marketing, forecasting, and project management.
The student will engage in a variety of tasks throughout the course of the summer. MMW has 5 primary work centers. Students will become familiar with each of the 5 work centers at MMW throughout the course of the internship and will apply to 1 area to specialize in, and which will serve as their production role during the internship.
MMW’s 5 work centers:
- First Stage Processing (Scouring, Carding, Combing)
- Second Stage Processing (Pin-drafting, Spinning, Plying)
- Yarn Dyeing & Finishing (coning, skeining, dyeing, labeling, packaging)
- Knitting (programming, machine knitting, repairs, knitwear finishing, sewing)
- Marketing (social media posting, blog writing, video editing)
Basic Requirements
- Pursuing a degree program (associates, bachelors, or masters) in Textile Design or Engineering, Agriculture Business or Marketing, Animal Science, Mechanical Engineering, or an alternative related degree.
- Has completed 4 semesters toward their degree program
- 18+ years of age
- Housing (paid for by MMW) is available at the Sheridan College Dorm’s 35 miles from Buffalo, WY. Alternatively, interns can arrange their own housing.
- 2025 Internship Dates: June 2nd through August 8th
Required Abilities
- Self-starter that can own projects under minimal supervision
- Can execute an idea with minimal supervision
- Experience crafting engaging, professional emails, and communicating a goal to others
- Demonstrates a curiosity to learn and shows a passion toward the sheep & ag industry
Benefits
- 36 hours per week (four days ON with 3 days OFF)
- 7 days off around the 4th of July holiday
- Competitive compensation
- Housing provided by Mountain Meadow Wool in Sheridan College dorms (30min drive)
- Experience working in all phases of a vertically integrated wool processing operation
- Mill organized events (potlucks, volunteer opportunities, wool/fiber festivals)
- Tour of local sheep ranch
- Work and live minutes away from outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities in the Bighorn Mountains
Key Intern Takeaways
- Hands-On understanding of the entire post-farm/ranch wool supply chain
- Direct mentorship throughout program with performance evaluations
- For students meeting or exceeding intern performance metrics they will receive a recommendation letter for future job applications
Job Description
Interns will be exposed to all areas of processing but will apply to one of the following specific work centers to serve as their primary production center
Work Center 1: First Stage Processing Technician Job Description
Process Components (Scouring, Blending, Carding, Pin-drafting, Combing)
- Desire to learn about raw wool (characteristics, breeds, etc)
- Learn about the close link between shearing and scouring
- Work in an environment with dirt, grease, high humidity
- Willing to clean machines regularly which can involve dirt, grease, fibers, etc
- Keep work orders organized and labeled properly to ensure 100% traceability of fiber through process
- Exhibit strong troubleshooting skills to diagnose, repair, maintain, and resolve machine error codes promptly, & escalate issues to appropriate personnel
- Ensure your phase of production meets the quality standards of the mill by continuously checking fiber quality, color, and cleanliness
- Can stand for 4+ hours at a time and bend down to pick up <20 lbs boxes 25% of the day
- Performs other duties as required