Intern Opportunities

We’re in an age where internships are an important asset to a resume and career success. It shows employers that you have some real world experience; you’re taking what you learn in college and putting it to use. To me, an internship shows that the person has motivation and the drive about whatever they are doing and they want to make themselves a marketable employee. But what do I know, I’m just an intern myself. But because of that role I can tell you that it is an experience you will find nowhere else! How many times in life can you try out a job for three months and then be done with it if you decide it’s not for you? Or you find you have an interest, continue to develop relationships from that internship and turn it into a future job? Not to mention all the real world skills you learn; how to work on a team/as individual, specific workings of an industry/career, not to mention the network you can build.


If you want to succeed in the world must make your own opportunities as you go on. The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time a coming. You can commit no greater folly than to sit by the roadside until some one comes along and invites you to ride with him to wealth or influence.--John Gough


Luckily the Nebraska Corn Board understands these things. This year, NCB is offering 5 internships for this summer and upcoming year. Each offering something a little different but each a great opportunity. NCB has partnered up with a few of its industry partners to offer these great opportunities.


Policy, Membership, and Corn Industry Leadership Internship- Washington D.C. (summer only)
Corn Industry Internship- St Louis with NCGA (summer only)
Policy, Promotion, and International Relations Internship with USGC- Washington D.C. (summer only)
Promotion & International Relations Internships with USMEF –Denver (summer only)
Communications & Outreach Internship- Lincoln (Full year, 2013-2013)


Each of these internships looks at a different part of the agriculture, especially corn, industries and how it can affect the nation and the world. The really cool thing about these internships is that the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), U.S. Grains Council (USGC), and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) don’t have interns themselves but have decided to partner with NCB to place Nebraska interns at their office. They don’t allow this with any other state boards and after their first experience with Nebraska interns this past summer each partner decided to continue the relationship with NCB and their Nebraska interns.

Jess Clower, who was the Promotion & Internationl Relations Intern with USMEF this last summer, said, "Interning with the U.S. Meat Export Federation was an amazing opportunity! It was a thrill and an honor to work with such a great staff that is fully committed to the United States’ red-meat industry. The experiences I gained will only benefit me in the future and reaffirmed my career path to one day work for a membership-based agricultural organization. This internship was truly one of the best opportunities I have experienced." To encourage Jess's interest in USMEF, she was sent to New Orleans for their Board of Directors meeting and product showcase.  Jess was asked at the end of her internship to remain with USMEF for an extra 4 months to work on some other projects they had for her!

USMEF works to increase the value and profitability of the U.S. beef, pork and  lamb industries by enhancing demand for their products in export markets through a dynamic partnership of all stakeholders

But these internships are also great because they just allow you to learn more about the industry. Sandra Kavan, interned at NCGA in St. Louis this summer, said, "was a greatexperience for me to expand upon my previous knowledge of corn, ethanol, water quality, and biotechnology. Everyone there was welcoming and always encouraged me to learn about the different aspects of NCGA, they always answered my questions." Sandra was sent to Corn Congress in Washington D.C. this summer for NCGA to  get a closer look at NCGA's role in D.C. and learn a little more about some issues the corn and agricultural sectors will be dealing with in the future.

From almost all the interns and different organizations that hosted these interns, it was ruled a successful partnership with plans to continue it. If you are interested about what went on at these internships please check out the interns blogs or visit http://www.nebraskacorn.blogspot.com/search/label/intern. If you have any questions about the year-long internship here in Lincoln feel free to shoot me an email at ncb.intern2@nebraska.gov.