Just curious why ag if you are more interested in mechanical. What experience do you have with facilities and construction. What about an internship this summer in SA.

Look at CAT in Seguin.

You aren't going to get a facility engineering role with an Ag degree and zero experience.

I grew up on my family's production cotton and sorghum farm in south Texas, so I studied Ag engineering. If you are unfamiliar with the Ag engineering degree, it brings together many concepts from mechanical, civil, electrical, and biological engineering with my coursework emphasis on machinery, systems, and facilities found in the Ag industry. Many people misunderstand the Ag engineering degree and assume I didn't take any true engineering classes, which is completely false. We take the same core curriculum courses every other engineer takes (i.e. statics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, etc) along with my upper level coursework in design of agricultural machinery and structures, biological transport processes, unit operations of agriculture facilities (material handling, storage, HVAC, etc), hydraulic power, irrigation and drainage engineering, and air pollution engineering to name a few.

Edit:
The only way I would be open to an internship would be if it was transitioned into a full time position at the end of summer, if my work garners such. What company would the internship be with?

I have been continually checking for open positions at CAT and Alamo Industrial in Seguin. As well as other CAT locations mentioned in the OP.

Why do you think I wouldn't get a facilities role? I have found multiple positions that do not require experience and ask for any engineering degree (not specified).

Texasaggie2016 said:

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I have been continually checking for open positions at CAT and Alamo Industrial in Seguin. As well as other CAT locations mentioned in the OP.

Why do you think I wouldn't get a facilities role? I have found multiple positions that do not require experience and ask for any engineering degree (not specified).

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i would be interested to see those roles. I assumed you meant oil and gas facilities.

The two that come to mind are a Plant engineer for DOW and a facilities engineer at EOG Resources.
Both positions require an engineering degree but list that a mechanical or chemical degree is preferred. The EOG job would also prefer 2+ years in the oil and gas industry, which doesn't align with their job description that says you enter a rotational training program to develop the skills and understanding required for the job.

Texasaggie2016 said:

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The two that come to mind are a Plant engineer for DOW and a facilities engineer at EOG Resources.
Both positions require an engineering degree but list that a mechanical or chemical degree is preferred. The EOG job would also prefer 2+ years in the oil and gas industry, which doesn't align with their job description that says you enter a rotational training program to develop the skills and understanding required for the job.

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2+ years could be as a mud or wireline engineer at a service company and the rotation program is likely reservoir, completions and facility design/operations. So leveraging some field experience and general knowledge of the industry and molding that person via a company specific rotational training program.

Hopefully that helps you understand why your resume probably doesn't currently align with others applying to that role and what that company is looking for.

I appreciate the feedback. That was my most recent job application (~5 days ago) so I knew I would hear back from them this quickly.

I checked out your linkedin. Have you looked some of the Ag Technology groups like NCAT? If not, they may be a good group to network with.

Ag Tech is becoming a hot area for innovation with lots of activity, but it ain't happening in South Texas. Very little is even happening in the state of Texas. Have you considered being open to relocation? John Deere has 185 Engineering jobs listed on their site, but not in Texas. You might also check out a group in San Fran called Ag Funder. They are a venture capital firm focused on Ag Tech. You might look through their portfolio of companies for ideas on who to contact.

The biggest weakness on your resume is the word "Ag" in your degree. People see it and automatically think "dumb farmer." (I'm in the Ag business so I can say it) So, when a non-Ag business looking for a mechanical or other eng degree sees it they are going to trash it. Not much you can do about that.

Also, you've got some good experience with internships and farm work. So, take the Golf Course attendant job off your profile and resume, or at least put it at the bottom. I promise you, no one hiring you cares that you changed the oil on some golf carts. When I was reading your LinkedIn experience I almost stopped at that job because I figured that you were done listing meaningful jobs.

Dont take any of this personally, just some advice from an older Ag.

Quite frankly, IMO the worst thing is the MS in Ag engineering. The BS in Ag engineering would be great... if you immediately left school and went and got real world experience in industry to go with it.

Best strategy is to showcase real-world experience in what you want to do, and be prepared to have a good explanation for why you pursued the masters in Ag Eng if that's not the direction you're heading.

ETA: looked at the linkedin, WTF is "Economic Empowerment?" Get any and all things political off your public profile.

Have you tried Cargil/Purina or similar?

I appreciate the advice. I have heard different points of view on college jobs but I agree it is irrelevant to jobs I am seeking.

Now that the wife and I have a baby on the way we are wanting to stay close to family in Texas. I understand that most Ag tech companies are not located in Texas but there are a plethora of small engineering firms and Ag machinery companies throughout Texas that don't list on job boards or online. Those are the people I am hoping to target with my inquiry.

In short, I had the opportunity to have my MS degree fully funded and have the chance to work independently on a technical design problem. I saw that as an opportunity I should not pass up.

I have looked at Cargil and have not found a position that aligns with what I am seeking. I have not looked at Purina.

I have no idea what "economic empowerment" you are referring too. I was confused when I read that, and I reviewed my profile and didn't see that anywhere?

It says it under "interests", then "Causes Cody cares about":

Economic opportunity
Education
Science and Technology

Potential internship would be with E&P in SA dealing with production facilities and construction. Every other group has 2 or 3 interns and we have none. Boss's boss asked why we didn't have any so when you said you were looking at EOG facility engineer I thought about it may be a fit. I know it is super late to be looking for interns right now. We are really not looking for anyone fulltime right now so it probably wouldn't fit with you being so close to graduation. We would probably want some with a few years left in school. Email is username at Yahoo if you want to send me resume. Like others have said the bs and ms is going to be a hurdle breaking into OG engineering.

If you're interested in plant/mechaninal work, I'm not sure you should discount civil/water. A few of the head treatment technologist folks I work with are Ag, but they also do a a significant amount of process mechanical design.