CHS Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: September 2026

CHS Inc. is the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the United States — a Fortune 500 company ranked #149 with $35.5 billion in fiscal year 2025 revenue, approximately 10,700 employees, and operations spanning 65 countries and 450+ U.S. communities. The company placed more than 150 interns in summer 2026 across 12 business groups at 75 locations, and CEO Jay Debertin himself began his CHS career as an intern. CHS distributes the Cenex brand of fuel across 19 midwestern and western states and co-owns Ventura Foods with Mitsui & Co. Applications for summer 2027 are expected to open in September–November 2026, and the paid program runs 12–15 weeks with enterprise-wide learning, senior leadership access, and a closing celebration at CHS Field.

Quick Facts

CHS places 150+ interns across 75 locations every summer with rolling review and campus recruiting. Apply as soon as postings appear in fall 2026 — popular tracks fill fast.

Externships are short, remote professional experience programs where you finish a real project with a real company. The TikTok Social Media Content Brand Strategy Externship and the Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy Externship build exactly the marketing strategy and supply-chain operations evidence a CHS application needs. Explore all Externships.

What Is a CHS Inc. Internship?

A CHS internship is a paid, 12–15 week summer placement that puts college students into real roles across 12 business groups — from agronomy and grain trading to marketing, finance, engineering, and IT — at the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the United States. CHS is a Fortune 500 secondary cooperative owned by agricultural cooperatives, farmers, ranchers, and preferred stockholders, headquartered in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. CEO Jay Debertin began his own CHS career as an intern. The program features enterprise-wide learning sessions, panel discussions with the strategic leadership team, one-on-one conversations with divisional leaders, and a closing celebration at CHS Field (St. Paul Saints). Glassdoor rates CHS 3.7 out of 5 with 80% of employees recommending it, and one intern review gave a 5.0/5 rating noting the supportive culture.

When Do CHS Inc. Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

CHS recruits on campus in the fall semester via Handshake and university career centers, with internship postings ramping up between September and November for the following summer. The program runs 12–15 weeks from late May through August, and Glassdoor data indicates the internship hiring pipeline averages 150 days from application to start date. That long lead time means fall 2026 is when the action happens for summer 2027. CHS does not publish a single deadline; instead, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as postings appear across the 12 tracks and 75 locations. Campus recruiting events are a primary channel — connect with CHS recruiters at your university's career fair for priority consideration.

How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

CHS places 150+ interns across 75 locations and 12 business groups, but that is a modest class for a Fortune 500 company with $35.5 billion in revenue. The cooperative's campus recruiting via Handshake starts in September, and the Glassdoor-reported 150-day average hiring pipeline means fall applicants are interviewing while spring applicants are still browsing. Rolling review rewards early movers. CHS explicitly says you do not need an agriculture background, but candidates who show they understand the cooperative model and can articulate why CHS's purpose — creating connections to empower agriculture — resonates with them will outperform generic applicants. The CEO started as an intern here; the pipeline from summer placement to long-term career is real. Apply in the first week postings appear, bring a story about cooperative values, and show up at the campus career fair.

Which CHS Inc. Internship Programs Should You Target?

CHS offers 12 internship tracks spanning the full breadth of its agribusiness, energy, and corporate operations. Which track to target depends on your major, career goals, and whether you prefer a headquarters setting in Minnesota or a field placement across the Midwest and Great Plains.

See all 12 tracks on the official CHS internship page. Additional tracks include R&D (Crop Science Center, Randolph MN), Human Resources, Environmental Health & Safety, Legal/Compliance, Sales, and Supply Chain & Procurement.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

CHS is explicit about accessibility: you do not need an agriculture or energy background to intern here. The program welcomes students from all fields of study across all 12 tracks.

• Enrollment: currently enrolled in an accredited college or university program, from Associate's through Master's depending on track.

• GPA: no published minimum. CHS does not list a GPA threshold on its careers page or in documented job descriptions. Practical skills, cooperative values, and relevant project experience carry more weight.

• Majors: no single required major across the program. IT accepts CS and data science; Engineering accepts ChemE, MechE, and environmental; Marketing accepts communications and business; Field Operations accepts agronomy, ag business, and plant science. CHS explicitly states: "You don't need a background in the agriculture or energy industries to make an impact at CHS."

• Work authorization: must be authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship status is not explicitly documented for intern roles.

Do I Need an Agriculture Background for a CHS Internship?

No. CHS says so directly on its careers page and in its internship articles. The 2024 careers article states: "You don't need a background in the agriculture or energy industries to make an impact at CHS" and "We have opportunities no matter what your field of study is." The 12-track structure — spanning IT, finance, marketing, engineering, trading, and legal alongside agronomy and field operations — means your computer science, accounting, or communications degree is just as relevant. What matters more is showing curiosity about agriculture, alignment with cooperative values (Integrity, Safety, Inclusion, Cooperative Spirit), and a willingness to learn an industry you might not have considered before.

What Skills Does CHS Inc. Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

CHS sits at the intersection of agriculture, energy, and technology, and its intern hiring reflects that breadth. Across the 12 tracks, the program values transferable analytical skills, communication, cooperative values alignment, and the willingness to learn an industry that touches every American table. The company's cooperative structure means teamwork and community-minded thinking are not nice-to-haves — they are core values that shape how every project gets evaluated. What does this tell you? CHS hires people who can bridge business skills with agricultural purpose.

How Is Demand for Agribusiness & Cooperative Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

And every skill in the chart maps to a remote Externship where you finish a real company project before the window opens.

How close is the overlap? The TikTok project builds the brand strategy and digital content skills CHS's marketing track asks for, the Amazon operations project maps directly to CHS's supply chain and field operations breadth, and the Yinan Zhao finance project builds the analytical rigor CHS's finance and trading tracks reward.

What Is the CHS Inc. Application and Interview Process Like?

CHS does not publish a rigid step-by-step hiring timeline, but Glassdoor data (76.1% positive experience, 2.74/5 difficulty) and career page information suggest a conversational, welcoming process:

1. Apply at jobs.chsinc.com/interns or through campus recruiting events via Handshake. Tailor your resume to show collaborative, analytical, and purpose-driven experience. CHS explicitly warns: apply through their careers site, not third-party boards.

2. Campus recruiting / career fair connection (September–November). Twenty percent of CHS hires come through campus recruiting per Glassdoor. Attend career fairs where CHS recruits and introduce yourself to the team — this is a meaningful channel at this cooperative.

3. Phone or video screen (rolling, October–January). A 20–30 minute call covering your background, interest in CHS, and alignment with cooperative values. Glassdoor describes the process as "very conversational, natural, and welcoming. No high pressure situations."

4. One-on-one or panel interview (rolling, November–March). Behavioral questions about teamwork, analytical background, and interest in the agriculture or energy industries. Expect questions about why you want to work at a cooperative and how you handle collaboration.

5. Offer and onboarding (rolling, December–April). Background check and logistics for your assigned location among CHS's 75 sites.

The Glassdoor-reported 150-day average from application to internship start means the pipeline is long but not stressful — CHS takes its time to find the right fit. Prepare by studying the cooperative model, CHS's four core values (Integrity, Safety, Inclusion, Cooperative Spirit), and the specific business group you are targeting. Our HireVue question guide with a free AI mock tool covers the same behavioral-question format.

What the Community Says

Reddit discussions about CHS focus on the agribusiness industry broadly and the cooperative model's value for early careers. No CHS-intern-specific threads were found, but the community consistently positions CHS alongside Cargill, ADM, and Bunge as a top agribusiness employer.

How Do You Stand Out at a Farmer-Owned Cooperative?

Three moves, all executable before fall 2026. First, understand the cooperative model and why it matters. CHS is not a standard corporation — it is owned by farmers, ranchers, and local cooperatives. A candidate who can articulate how cooperatives differ from publicly traded companies (member-owners, patronage dividends, democratic governance by a 17-member board of agricultural professionals) and why cooperative spirit drives every business decision will outperform generic applicants. Reference CHS's purpose: "creating connections to empower agriculture." Second, show familiarity with CHS's diversified portfolio. Most applicants think of CHS as a grain company. In reality, CHS operates petroleum refineries and pipelines (Cenex brand), nitrogen production facilities, food processing (Ventura Foods with Mitsui), and renewable energy operations. The August 2026 partnership with OCP North America to strengthen U.S. fertilizer supply demonstrates strategic ambition beyond a single division. Third, leverage the CEO-started-as-an-intern narrative in your cover letter. Jay Debertin explicitly states on the internship page: "I began my CHS journey as an intern." This is rare at Fortune 500 companies. Connect it to a specific long-term interest to show you see the internship as the beginning of a career, not a summer resume line.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

CHS's peer set spans agribusiness cooperatives and food production companies, all with internship programs that recruit from the same candidate pool of ag business, engineering, finance, and marketing students.

Our marketing internships summer 2027 guide maps the full landscape of food production and agribusiness internship opportunities, timeline by timeline.

FAQ

Can I still apply for a summer 2026 CHS internship?

No. The summer 2026 class of 150+ interns started in late May 2026 and those postings closed in early 2026. The next open cycle is summer 2027: based on prior-cycle patterns, CHS posts summer internships around September to November the year before, so check jobs.chsinc.com now and apply in the first week postings appear.

How much do CHS interns get paid?

CHS internships are paid. A LinkedIn job description for an HR Operations Specialist Intern listed $15 to $21 per hour, and Indeed reports approximately $17 to $19 per hour for business and HR interns. Rates vary by track, location, and education level, with engineering and trading roles likely at the higher end.

Do I need an agriculture background to intern at CHS?

No. CHS explicitly states you do not need a background in agriculture or energy to make an impact. The program welcomes students from all fields of study across 12 internship tracks including IT, finance, marketing, engineering, and legal. Passion for learning about the agricultural industry matters more than prior ag experience.

Where are CHS internships located?

Across 75 U.S. locations spanning 12 business groups. Corporate roles in marketing, finance, IT, and HR are based at CHS headquarters in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Field operations and agronomy interns work across the Midwest and Great Plains. Engineering interns may be placed at refineries like McPherson, Kansas.

How long is a CHS internship?

Twelve to fifteen weeks. CHS's careers page states the program runs 12 to 15 weeks, from approximately late May through August. The program includes enterprise-wide learning sessions, senior leadership panels, one-on-one conversations with divisional leaders, and a closing celebration at CHS Field.

What is the CHS internship interview like?

Conversational and welcoming with average difficulty. Glassdoor rates CHS interviews 2.74 out of 5 for difficulty, with 76 percent of candidates reporting a positive experience. Expect behavioral questions about teamwork, analytical background, and interest in agriculture. The process is described as natural with no high-pressure situations.

Can a CHS internship lead to a full-time job?

Yes. CHS profiles former interns who converted to full-time employees, including Lindsey Torell who started as a patron equities intern in 2017, and CEO Jay Debertin started his career as an intern. The company describes internships as a jumpstart for future careers and features a dedicated section on intern-to-full-time conversion.

Does CHS require a minimum GPA for internships?

No published GPA requirement exists for any CHS internship track. The company emphasizes cooperative values, practical skills, curiosity about agriculture, and relevant project experience over academic metrics. A 3.0 or above is a reasonable target given industry norms, but CHS has not stated a threshold.

CHS places 150+ interns across 75 locations every summer, but the cooperative's rolling review and 150-day pipeline mean fall applicants have the edge. Spend the runway building proof: a remote Externship turns "interested in agribusiness" into a finished project a fall 2026 application can point at.