Intern Update: In Pursuit of an Agricultural Career

08-05-2015 in Communications Internship

By Haley Banwart, CSIF Communications Intern

“Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.”
-Letter from Thomas Jefferson to George Washington.

Every day I am reminded of my passion for agriculture by a large black and white poster hanging in my apartment that bares this motivating quote. It is a subtle, yet meaningful expression of my farm background, college education and pursuit of an agricultural career.

Like many other farm kids, it was a pretty simple decision for me to work towards a profession in the agriculture industry. The more challenging decision was figuring out what agricultural field I wanted to study. Agricultural communications seemed like an obvious choice after I recognized my strengths in writing and public speaking.

My internships have made it more apparent that agricultural communications is the right fit for me. One of my favorite aspects of interning with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers has been building relationships with livestock farmers and their families. I love having the opportunity to visit farms across the state, and I have realized that this type of personal interaction is something I

aspire for in my future career.

One of my latest projects as a communications intern includes collecting video testimonials of farmers who have previously worked with CSIF. Listening to the positive experiences these farmers

have had echoes their dedication to doing things right as well as the shared mission of raising livestock responsibly and successfully.

I had a particularly special filming trip when I visited the family farm of one of my best friends from college. My friend’s father explained that working with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers made a tremendous impact on the continued success of their farm. It was a really rewarding moment for me to witness how the organization I intern with touches the lives of Iowa’s farm families in an extraordinary way.

Whether communicating through video testimonials, written content or face to face, agricultural communications encompasses a variety of messaging strategies. I love the challenge of finding the right combination of words or approach to engage an audience, and I look forward to communicating on behalf of the agriculture industry in my professional career.

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