Intern Update: Exploring My Role in Iowa Agriculture

05-29-2015 in Communications Internship

By Haley Banwart, CSIF Communications Intern

Agriculture has played an integral role in all chapters of my life. From my upbringing on a farm in northwest Iowa to my education, agriculture has encompassed my decisions and will ultimately shape my future career. For these reasons I was thrilled to join the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers as their 2015 summer intern.

The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers has been a perfect fit for me in fusing my passion for writing with my passion for agriculture. After spending three full weeks with CSIF as their communications intern, I have written a number of articles, helped plan social media posts, reached out to farmers and road tripped across Iowa to complete farm visits.

My college career at Iowa State University has helped me become knowledgeable in the agricultural sciences, but my most valuable learning experiences have been made through my internships. My internship with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers has already expanded my understanding of the agriculture industry and allowed me to narrow down the career path I envision for myself.

Working as a part of the CSIF team has allowed me to discover my desire to interact with farmers on a personal level and serve as a voice for Iowa’s farm families. I was able to get a taste for this through my internship at my hometown co-op, but I am excited to gain additional communication experience this summer.

One of the most inspiring moments of my internship involves what I witnessed on my farm visits with CSIF field specialist, Kent Mowrer. On one particular visit, Kent helped a young farm family site a future barn and interpret the rules and regulations applicable to Iowa’s livestock farmers.

The hour and a half spent sitting at the kitchen table with this Iowa farm family did so much more than determine possibilities for future expansion. The visit made a tremendous impact on the future success of this family’s farm. This realization allowed me to experience firsthand just how important the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers is as an agricultural resource.

I am looking forward to sharpening my professional skills in the agricultural industry while completing a variety of projects with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers. As an Iowa native who grew up on “Old McDonald’s farm,” I am excited and eager to learn more about Iowa’s diverse livestock industry.

As I work toward my future career I hope to gain a strong understanding of Iowa agriculture. It is very rewarding to be a part of the CSIF team and soak in new experiences that will help me achieve my goal of giving back to Iowa’s agricultural community.

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