One last look at my time as the NCB Intern

Exactly one year ago I was going through the training process for my internship. Morgan Zumpfe, the previous intern, did such a great job teaching me all about what the internship entailed and all of the duties that I would have for the upcoming year. Also during my time with Morgan, we attended the Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival in Grand Island, and taught Nebraska 4th graders about the importance of water to growing corn. Now, one year later, I have switched roles and am now training Morgan Schilling, who will be replacing me beginning this week as the new Nebraska Corn Board Intern. I know he will be a great addition to the Corn Board team.

During the past year, this internship has allowed me to learn so much about the agricultural industry. Attending ethanol promotions, traveling to Commodity Classic, going on the Nebraska Agribusiness Club Tour, and being a sponsor at Frog Fest were just a few of the highlights of my internship. Through all of my experiences, I have truly grown as an individual. Coming into this internship as a freshman with only one year of college under my belt, I was a little nervous about having an internship so soon, but I am so thankful that the staff at the Corn Board allowed me to have this great opportunity. I have learned more than I could have ever imagined, and this truly was a growing experience over the past year. Although I am sad that my time here has come to an end, I am so excited to see Morgan take over.

I want to extend my thanks especially to the Corn Board staff. These staff members have been there for me from day one, and have been the main reason of why I have enjoyed this internship so much. I can't think of a better group of individuals to come to work with each and every day. You will all truly be missed. Also, I want to thank all Nebraska corn farmers for their continuous support. It is your support that allows students like myself to attain these internships. It is internships like this that grow and develop our next generation of agricultural leaders.

An end to a great experience in Panama

By Greg Sullivan, USGC International Intern, Panama City, Panama.

My time has come to an end here in Panama. It has been an enjoyably long summer that has afforded me the opportunity to meet some fascinating people and experience some once-in-a-lifetime events. From volunteering at a youth event to jumping off of a waterfall to coordinating an international agriculture conference in a foreign country, there will be no shortage of memories and experiences from which to draw upon in the latter stages of my life. Even though the full value and extent of this experience will not hit me for some time there are three areas of learning that likely occurred during my time here and will provide a solid platform upon which further academic and professional learning will occur. They are a better understanding of the role of the USGC in the global agriculture markets, a better understanding of the markets for US grains in Latin America, and an interesting living experience in a new culture.  

Summer in St. Louis: Farming, Firsts, and Fun

By Emily Scholting, National Corn Growers Association Intern. 

The amazing NCGA office in St. Louis that 
I had the chance to work in for the summer!

Hello again! After spending an amazing summer as an intern for the National Corn Growers Association, I am back in Nebraska and beginning my senior year at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln. While I'm sad that the summer has ended, I'm also very excited to continue my collegiate career and see where the future takes me!

In the final weeks of my internship in St. Louis, I got to work on my ongoing projects as well as a few new projects, and I really got to know the people I was working with. I spent some time with my coexistence project, and though we didn't get the chance to finish it as summer came to an end, I will be in touch with NCGA's Director of Biotechnology and Economic Analysis to see how the final product turns out. It will be really exciting to see something that I've worked on being used as a resource for actual corn growers around the country! I also finished up my list of potential technologies to be used for plant phenotyping in agriculture, as well as a list of companies that may potentially bring other products to market soon. It turned out to be a really comprehensive way to learn about up-and-coming technologies in the agricultural world, and it is fascinating to see this industry finding new ways to engage with and use science to make our products better.

While at NCGA, I also worked on compiling information about upcoming biotechnology events in corn and soybeans. Using publicly available information from the websites and press releases of major players in the biotech industry, I outlined the new products in the research pipeline in their various stages of development, from proof-of-concept to limited consumer launch in corn, as well as from advanced development to launch in soybeans. There are definitely some new and exciting traits in the works that farmers in Nebraska and all over the U.S. should be excited about!

In addition to my work mostly with the Production and Sustainability department at NCGA, I got to spend some of my remaining time with the marketing and grassroots side of things. I worked with data from RFS efforts, mobile apps, and research on those candidates currently seeking presidential election in 2016. I was able to see a bit more of the political side of the organization, which helped me put into real applications some of what I've learned as a political science major. I even wrote my first comment to the EPA as a concerned college student regarding the RFS. I also got to discuss some of the things that go into communications with that part of the staff, and I received some great tips on how to improve my writing and communication styles in the future.

Perhaps the most rewarding parts of this internship for me were the meetings I was able to have with several of NCGA's staff at the end of the summer. I cannot say enough about how gracious and wonderful the people that I worked with are, and there's no way I can begin to thank them for all the amazing things they've done for me. I had the opportunity to wrap up my internship with a presentation to the whole staff, who were all incredibly supportive and encouraging. I also had meetings with several of my supervisors, who gave me advice and guidance for the road ahead. I had the chance to explain my future plans and discuss them with some of the people I consider to be the best in the industry, and I could not be more grateful for that part of my summer.

My first Major League Baseball game at Busch Stadium!

As usual, I also did some really fun things outside of the office during my last few weeks. One of my coworkers took me to my first MLB game at Busch Stadium, and I had a chance to verify that the Cardinals supporters really are the best fans in baseball. I also went to Six Flags when my sisters came to visit, and we had a blast on the roller coasters. I spent an exciting week back home at the Sarpy County Fair, which has always meant a lot to me with my 4-H background. I was able to watch my siblings in the beef show and the tractor pull, and I had the chance to talk to some of my favorite Nebraska farmers about what I've been doing all summer. During my last week in the office, I spent most of my lunch breaks with various combinations of my awesome coworkers, and got to try even more of the unique restaurants in Chesterfield. I even got the original recipe for St. Louis gooey butter cake, an arch-city staple, from a coworker whose family used to own the famous bakery.

My sisters and I at the Sarpy County Fair, where 

they showed two of the champion market beef animals!

I learned so much over the course of the summer that it can't possibly be condensed into a single blog post. When I was home for a week during the county fair, I got to continue the conversations of agriculture with people I've known my whole life, and I truly realized how much I gained from this experience. I'm leaving with a better knowledge of myself, of the NCGA, and of the industry as a whole. Though I'm still not sure exactly where I want to be when I finish law school, I've found so many areas within the agriculture industry where I could put my passion and newly-gained knowledge to excellent use. I am extremely thankful to the Nebraska Corn Board and the NCGA staff for this amazing opportunity, and for a summer I'll never forget. I am more excited about the endless opportunities in the agriculture industry than ever before, and I look forward to finding my place in it!

There Is No Place

By Glen Ready, National Corn Growers Association Intern.

After a summer in D.C., it’s great to be back!

There is no place like Nebraska. We’ve heard that a million times, and I’m sure it will be said a million more. That doesn’t mean it isn’t true. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity that I was granted this summer, and am humbled by the experience. It has granted me a unique perspective of our wonderful industry. Being back in the good life, I have had a chance to reflect on my time in the nation’s capital. The agriculture industry, from individual farmers to large companies and organizations, invest so much in the future of agriculture. From your local 4-H program, FFA, and scholarships and events to internships and agriculture policy in D.C. and beyond, these groups provide incredible opportunities for young people. This is evident in the opportunity the Nebraska Corn Board granted me this summer.

This summer was an incredible opportunity, but there is something to be said for coming home to our great state. Before leaving for Washington, D.C. I was incredibly excited and never once thought of missing home. Flying back and landing in Omaha, it hit me just how important this place and this industry is to me, and how happy I was to be back. Seeing the fields of corn, helping out at home on the farm for a few days, they meant so much more to me after seeing all the work people hundreds of miles away do to make sure our day-to-day work can continue. There is no question that there “is no place like Nebraska”, but this is true partially because of the work that is done outside of our state borders, whether in Washington, D.C. or around the world.

I started out with an interest in agriculture policy because it was a unique field that so many of us forget about as we go about the work of production agriculture. I have learned more this summer than I ever could have hoped to do in a classroom. I want to take this opportunity again to thank the Corn Board, because the organization does some great work to let students like me gain a better understanding of just how vast this industry is, and how we can play a role beyond what we see in production agriculture or with large agriculture corporations. Everyone can play a unique role in this industry, and this is the case whether you are in the great state of Nebraska, or in Washington, D.C.

Got to take a step back and reflect on my last night in the district.

Thank You Nebraska Corn Board!

#FunFactFriday Infographic

Where did the summer go? I can hardly believe that my full-time summer internship with the Nebraska Corn Board has passed, and I have already began my sophomore year at UNL. But, I am so glad that I get to continue this internship throughout this school year. I will be working in the office two days a week. Although I’ll definately miss being in the office surrounded by my outstanding co-workers all week, I am so excited to get another school year going. During my last few weeks in the office this summer I was very busy with several different projects; some that have been ongoing throughout the summer and some new projects.

Frog Fest Concert

My favorite ongoing project has been creating #funfactfriday infographics each week. These give me the chance to bring out my creative side and produce a graphic that can be used for many different promotional purposes, and posted on all social media sites. Another main project that the Nebraska Corn Board has been very focused on lately is supporting the Renewable Fuel Standard. We sent out 6,000 comment card mailings to corn growers and I kept track of the responses sent back in, and then recorded the information to be sent on to the Environmental Protection Agency. A new project I have been working on is promoting the 2015 International Year of Soils. I posted a blog featuring "Healthy Soils are the Basis for Healthy Food Production" and also a corresponding infographic for the month of July. I will do the same for the following five months of 2015, with each month featuring a different key fact about the importance of soils. Another ongoing project I have done throughout the summer has been creating a monthly E-Update email to be sent out to our contacts. Each month features a few important stories or blogs, and also either a recipe, video, or infographic. I really enjoy designing these and writing the blogs that coincide. Beginning in September, I will begin also creating an Educational E-Update to be sent out to agriculture teachers across the state. These will feature information that can be taught in classrooms as well as new apps relating to agriculture and students.

Myself, Emily, Susan, and Janet at Frog Fest

It is safe to say that I ended my internship on a high note this summer. The last project I was able to work on was planning our Frog Fest concert sponsorship. Frog Fest is a country concert put on by the Froggy 98 radio station and is held every summer. This year, American Ethanol was one of the sponsors for this great event! To top everything off, the headline was Lee Brice, which happens to be one of my favorite country singers, so that made it even better! Before the event, I worked with Emily on ordering promotional items and getting our booth space details worked out. On the day of the event, I traveled to Blue Stem Farms with Susan and Janet, and we then met up with Emily, and then began setting up our tent area. The event turned out to be a great success, with a record attendance. It was such a great environment to promote American Ethanol. We gave away koozies, bug repellant, head wraps, and meet-and-greet passes with Lee Brice. Not only did I just get to attend this event, but I was also able to go on stage with Emily to photograph the crowd! It was such a fun night spent with the best co-workers, in a super fun atmosphere, while also being able to promote the benefits of American Ethanol. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my full-time internship!

Myself with the Taiwan Trade Team at Green Plains Ethanol

After returning to work for my final week in the office, I was able to attend yet one more amazing experience. The U.S. Grains Council hosted a Taiwan Corn & DDGS Survey Team to tour the U.S, and they actually made a stop in my hometown, Seward, NE! The first day I was with this trade team, we went to Alan Tiemann's farm and showed this trade team all of the equipment he uses and talked with them about specific farming practices in Nebraska. Later that day we took the team to the Seward County Fair. This was exciting for me to be able to show them something I am so passionate about, since I grew up as a 4-H member and have been a part of the Seward County Fair my entire life. The trade team loved watching the hog show and looking at all of the 4-H exhibits. A couple days later I met up with the trade team again, but this time in Lincoln. We toured several different businesses. We went to Lincoln Inspection Service, Brandon Hunnicutt's farm in Giltner, Aurora Cooperative, and Green Plains Ethanol in Central City. The trade team was very engaged at each of our stops and had many great questions about agriculture and corn production in Nebraska.

Trade Team Giving Gift to Hunnicutt's

Overall, my time this summer at the Nebraska Corn Board was  everything I had hoped it to be and more. I can't thank each of my co-workers enough for everything they did for me this summer, and for teaching me not only more about the corn industry, but more about myself as well. I plan to take all of the skills and knowledge I gained this summer into my future coursework at UNL, and also into a future career someday. I am so thankful for each of the experiences I have been able to be apart of. Never did I think I would be backstage at a Lee Brice concert or giving a Taiwain Trade Team a tour of my hometown county fair. But I am so grateful that the NCB allowed me to do so. I can't wait to see where the next nine months take me!

From Working on the Farm to Working for Farmers

By Samantha Schneider, Nebraska Corn Growers Association Intern.

Hey everyone! I’m Samantha Schneider, and I’ll be a senior this fall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln majoring in Agricultural Communications.  I grew up south of Cozad, Nebraska on the family farm where we raise corn, soybeans, popcorn and cattle.  This summer I decided to branch out, and I have an amazing internship with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) where I am the communications intern.

My first day as an intern, was the day Morgan and I started planning our big summer event, the 5^th Annual Corn Grower Open.  Corn Grower Open was held at Meadowlark Hills Golf Course in Kearney, Nebraska on July 29^th.  I enjoyed getting hands on experience planning an event that reached out to our local corn grower members and members of the agricultural industry as well.  During the Corn Grower Open, we held a silent auction. The proceeds went to support the Food Banks of Lincoln and Kearney. With the help from our sponsors and corn grower members, we were able to raise over $1,000 to donate. I enjoy working with an organization that likes to help people in need.

It was a beautiful day at Meadowlark Hills Golf Course for the 5^th Annual Corn Grower Open.

Growing up on a farm you get used to working outside, luckily I got to spend plenty of hours outside promoting the use of American Ethanol.  The NeCGA has a summer tradition of traveling across Nebraska to promote Ethanol Night at the Races.  The first race was held on May 30^th at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction. This was a great start to the summer! Morgan and I got to ride in the pace car and hold the American Ethanol flag to wave out the window.  The next race was on June 28^th at I-80 Speedway near Greenwood.  Our next stop was at the Dawson County Raceway in Lexington on July 19^th.  At both these races, the Biofuels Mobile Education Trailer and American Ethanol Show Car were in attendance.  It was fun to see people taking pictures with the show car and learning more about ethanol.  The last race was held at Beatrice Speedway on August 7^th, it was kid’s night so we handed out corn and ethanol coloring books.  At each race we passed out promotional items and during intermission we asked trivia questions about ethanol to educate the crowd.

 Morgan and I getting a ride around the dirt track at Junction Motor Speedway in a Mustang!

I also had the opportunity to help with American Ethanol promotions at Kum and Go gas stations.  Every Thursday throughout the summer, customers could get E85 for 85 cents from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the different stations in the Omaha metro area. This was a great opportunity to educate people about ethanol and about the current issues the industry is facing. We would encourage people to leave a comment to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has lowered the amount of corn based biofuel used to supply our nation’s renewable fuel, this could have a severe impact on our corn production next year. I was proud to promote ethanol this summer and encourage people to protect this industry. 

Austin Dillon's American Ethanol Show Car

I have had endless opportunities this summer to work with people in the industry I am passionate about.  Through this internship I have made connections and learned new skills that I wouldn’t have known or had otherwise.  I love being a part of an industry that is always changing allowing me to never stop learning. I look forward to continuing my internship with NeCGA through my senior year at the University. 

U.S. Grains Council Wrap Up

By Amanda Clymer, US Grains Council Intern

Friday, August 14 was my last day in the U.S. Grains Council Washington D.C. office. For those who may have forgotten, I interned in the global programs department planning for international trade teams, consultants and missions that travel overseas. Planning for the Taiwan DDGS survey team was my individual project this summer. This team spent some time in Nebraska visiting corn farms, ethanol plants and local elevators. I worked with the Nebraska Corn Board office to plan this portion of the trip. The Taiwan group also visited the Chicago area and a Seattle export facility.

Taiwan DDGs Survey Team picture

During the summer I communicated often with the Taiwan country director, Clover, as well as the other nine country and regional offices of the U.S. Grains Council. This was meaningful to me because as people in American agriculture we always discuss the goal of feeding the world. I was able to see firsthand work of developing markets that would eventually provide food for people in China, Japan, Tanzania or Southeast Asia. Besides this connection, the opportunity to export corn and other grains matters to farmers. I think the video below from the USGC sums it up.

After my summer at the U.S. Grains Council I have developed a great appreciation for the work done in developing markets and enabling trade to improve lives. Now more than ever, I believe that feeding the world is a collective effort and real work is being done to overcome challenges facing agriculture. I truly appreciate the Nebraska Corn Board for allowing me to represent 26,000 Nebraska corn farmers in Washington D.C. this summer at the U.S. Grains Council.

Greetings from Nebraska!

By Kaydee Caldwell, US Meat Export Federation Intern

I have been home for a few days; my last day at USMEF was July 31. I had an amazing summer full of experiences that are simply invaluable. These last few months have been unforgettable. To start off my internship I attended the USMEF Board of Directors meeting in San Antonio, TX. The meetings I attended and speakers I was able to listen to made for a very enlightening experience. The first few weeks of my internship were filled with such a gain of knowledge that I can’t wait to apply to my classes at school, as well as my future career.

My big project for the summer was to put together a pork book showcasing the cuts that we export around the world. To start off the project, I emailed all of our international offices to find out which cuts were most popular in the different regions. The next step was to contact a photographer and packing plant and get everything lined up to get pictures of the cuts. 

Travis and I being meat beauticians at the pork photo shoot.

Once we were done with the photo shoot we contacted the graphic designer and had a meeting about the layout and talked about the time frame of the project.  Once we got all the pictures from the photographer, we found plated shots of poplar meals in each region and created a layout of the book to give the graphic designer an idea of how we wanted the pictures laid out. Before I left, we got our first proof back and I couldn’t be more excited about how this book is going to turn out!! I would like to give a quick shout out to Travis, Cheyenne, Lindsey and Paul for being so helpful when it came to this project. Their knowledge was very much appreciated and I truly enjoyed working with them.

Another project I had was to scout out different nations export associations and figure out exactly what we were competing with on a monetary and advertising basis. I looked up numerous annual reports, advertising campaigns and looked through the different members of their associations to figure out exactly what we are up against. Australia is by far one of our biggest competitors in the beef industry and although we have some of the best beef product in the world, they are able to get their product into way more countries. Their budget just for beef export promotion is $136 Million; our budget isn’t near that. I was just truly shocked, a major difference is while we give $1 to our checkoff program here in America, in Australia where their herd is bigger they give $5 a head, and look at the difference!! I gained some serious insight on competitors and had a great time feeling like a detective of red meat! Once I got done researching I printed out some of the information that was more useful and created a binder of our biggest competitors for future use.

There is a lot of transition going on at the office in Denver so I go to spend a few weeks playing receptionist and pretending to be Pam off “The Office”. I had a great time working with the lovely people of the USMEF Denver office and hope to keep in touch with them. I would like to thank John Hinners for doing a great job of keeping an eye on me and making sure I was well taken care of - he was a great boss and I really appreciated everything he did for me. Janel Domurat was another amazing co-worker of mine that I always enjoyed chatting with, she has an amazing sense of humor and I know that if I would have needed a mother figure during my time there she would have been more than able to take care of me! Joni Costa was also spectacular to work with, right away when I started she made sure I knew where everything was in the office, ensured I had quality housing and did a great job of making me feel needed! Paul Clayton and Dan Halstom are the last two that I want to give a shout out to, they are such champs when it comes to me giving them some good of Husker smack talk! They were also able to dish it right back, along with John, trying to convince me of Iowa State’s superiority.

My last two days at the office I was treated to lunch dates and had a wonderful time with everyone! On Thursday John, Paul, Travis and Cheyenne took me to Hop Daddy, it was very delicious. Then Friday for lunch I went out with Janel, Tammy, Joni and Angela. They took me to a lovely Italian restaurant where we had some excellent conversation. They embarrassed and entertained me as much as my mother does when they said, “Oh, let’s take a selfie!” I honestly couldn’t have turned redder. I really did enjoy my time with everyone in the office and look forward to seeing them all again.

Finally, I would like to thank the Nebraska Corn Board to sending me to Denver and giving me the opportunity to meet all these amazing people this summer. I had a wonderful time and gained so much knowledge of the red meat industry, found a new perspective of the beef and pork sector that as a producer I had not been exposed to before, and also for giving me the ability to form connections further in the industry with people who could be vital to my career success. I really did enjoy my time in Denver, but I was very excited to come home!

Thank you to everyone at the US Meat Export Federation for your hospitality, I hope our paths will cross again!

Here are some pictures from my summer! 

Last day of work lunch date with some of the fabulous

 ladies in the office! Angela, Janel, Joni and Tammy.

This was my first summer of enjoying the pool and not getting a farmers tan!

First day home and I HAD to go and visit my old show heifers!

And my first Monday back I enjoyed spending the day in the office I’m used to!

I Like Working for Farmers

By Glen Ready, National Corn Growers Association Intern.

 When you like working for farmers, you
can end up doing some interesting things!

The title of this post says it all. This is a quote from one of the many wonderful staff here at NCGA, and neatly sums up why our industry is unique. In my time here in the district, I have had the opportunity to network with a great number of people from various agricultural organizations. Some of these people come from agriculture backgrounds but many found their way in to agriculture later in life. It’s interesting to hear from people who sort of “fell in” to agriculture. I had never thought of a “why” for people that ended up in agricultural policy without an agricultural background. Those of us that have said background can give our speech on what makes agriculture special to us in any number of ways. We grew up caring about these things, and the “why” question is pretty easy for us.

As I continued to meet people in the agriculture industry that had no background in agriculture I was continually surprised. Why would someone want to work in agriculture (or even think to work in agriculture) if they didn’t feel a connection or passion for what they were doing. It is far from the easiest job trying to explain to people that producers do care about the land, our animals, etc.  If they did have that passion, how did it come about? It made me think about what makes our industry great, and why George Washington would say that farming was the most noble employment of man (though as a farmer himself, maybe he was just tooting his own horn).

As I thought about this I realized it wasn’t so much the act of farming that is noble or inspiring. Indeed at times it is hardly glamorous at all what with the dirt, sweat, manure, and any manner of other things marring what is supposed to be a most noble profession. The people are what make agriculture so unique. The kindness, generosity, and willingness to help is near-universal in our industry. That isn’t to say none are curmudgeonly or stubborn beyond belief (my grandpa Arland certainly wasn’t a perfect example). Even many of those would give you the shirt off their back. For many without the background I’ve had, they come to the industry for a job, and they stay, and they care, because of the people.

This really isn’t all that different when I think about why so many of us with a farming background want to stay in the industry and help those farmers that have given so much to us. As was so neatly summarized by someone in the office that didn’t have an agricultural background, “I like working for farmers”. I realized that really, that’s why I’m sticking around too.

Exploring the Ag Industry: From St. Louis to Washington DC and Back Again!

By Emily Scholting, National Corn Growers Association Intern. 

Hello again! I can’t believe it’s been about a month since my last internship blog. Time is flying by here in St. Louis. I’ve kept busy learning about the corn industry, meeting new people, acting like a tourist, and having a lot of fun!

So much has happened since I got here that I barely know where to begin. I’ve been working mostly on the same set of projects, but I’ve also gotten to participate in a number of other experiences within and outside the NCGA office. My major project for the summer has really started to take shape, as I have compiled quite a bit of information on agricultural coexistence and I am working with NCGA’s Director of Biotechnology and Economic Analysis to turn these facts into a usable resource. I have learned not only about the current and former debates concerning coexistence, but also about some of the practices growers can use to ensure successful coexistence on their farms. This is especially important for a state like Nebraska, where so many value-added crops are produced in the same area. I have also continued my research with plant phenotyping technology, particularly that which can be used in agricultural fields for remote sensing applications. I have been working with NCGA’s Director of Research and New Uses to put together a list of several technologies and devices that have been developed which could potentially advance the study of plant phenotyping for agriculture.

Outside of the NCGA office, I have had the opportunity to attend meetings with several participants from all over the agriculture industry. Last month, I accompanied some of the NCGA staff to a meeting with Turkish seed association representatives about the American seed and agriculture industries. I spent last week in Washington, D.C. at NCGA’s national Corn Congress with the rest of the staff. I had the chance to attend several meetings with industry leaders, staff, association leadership, and corn grower delegates from all over the United States. Presentations from several notable individuals, including EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp from North Dakota, offered valuable insight into some of the major issues facing agriculture today, as did the responses from growers to those presentations. While we were in D.C., a rally was held on Capitol Hill to protest proposed cuts to the RFS by the Environmental Protection Agency. These cuts in the Renewable Fuel Standard would represent great losses in demand for corn ethanol, and corn farmers showed up in force to raise their concerns. It was definitely an amazing experience to see so many farmers, leaders, and industry representatives standing up for their cause in our nation’s capital. I also spent some time catching up with members of the Nebraska Corn Board and NE Corn Growers Association, accompanying them to meet with Senator Deb Fischer on Capitol Hill. Though it was a busy week, I did get to explore a bit of the city with some of the NCGA staff, including a walk past the White House and a few evenings spent on the town.

  

 Because I can’t resist spending some of my downtime in St. Louis acting like a tourist, I have spent several weekends exploring all the amazing things this city has to offer. Through the kindness of my amazing host family and members of the NCGA staff, I have seen several parts of the St. Louis area that were previously foreign to me. The city of St. Louis is divided into several suburbs and neighborhoods that are each as unique as the people who live there. In my time here, I have played pinball in Maplewood, walked through the Loop, played darts at Blueberry Hill, and sampled some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had on the Hill. I’ve also gotten to see Forest Park, the Chinese Lantern Festival held at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the St. Louis Zoo, the Old Courthouse, the Gateway Arch, Ballpark Village, and Busch Stadium. I recently went on a tour of the famed Anheuser-Busch brewery in the city, and got to see some of the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. There is still so much I’d love to do in my remaining time here. St. Louis is definitely a city with something going on all the time!

Finally, I can’t say enough about how gracious and awesome everyone in St. Louis has been so far. I am so thankful to have found such a great group of people in this city, from my host family to the NCGA staff to everyone else I’ve met along the way. They have been kind enough to allow me to learn from them and work with them, as well as show me around unfamiliar places. I couldn’t ask for a better group to share my summer with this year. I’m so looking forward to what the rest of the summer has in store. Until next time!

Agriculture Around the World

By Greg Sullivan, USGC International Intern, Panama City, Panama.

Well, I have been in Panama for roughly two months now and I can say with absolute certainty that my experience thus far has yet to disappoint me. It has been a rush to say the least and that was only bolstered by a recent trip to Colombia for the Regional Buyers Conference.

The conference, sponsored and organized by the USGC, was a flagship program for the Panama office as our staff continues to create and drive demand for American coarse grains and co-products. This particular event focused primarily on Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) for which nearly 40% of the global market for DDGS was represented by the attendees. Speakers addressed topics related to the production and value of U.S. corn ethanol, corn gluten feed and meal, and DDGS as well as the logistical and supply chain advantages employed by U.S. companies in sourcing and delivering these products to consumers around the world. While the speech topics provided interesting insight into the current and future projects of the markets for the respective products, the real value of the conference for the participants was derived from the networking opportunities. One such opportunity, pictured above, was a participant reception that was held on the final night of the conference. While the future economic impacts of this conference will not be known for some time, having more than 110 participants on hand and interacting with one another is an excellent sign and strongly supports an optimistic outlook.

Outside of the employment role, Panamanian life has been pleasant. I have been fortunate enough to visit some of the more scenic areas of the country, one of which has been pictured below. This picture was taken off the northern coast of Panama on a remote island in the San Blas island chain. Getting to and from the island can be a bit tricky due to it only recently becoming a destination location. There is a 40 km stretch of semi-paved road through a mountainous jungle that is notorious for causing foreigners to suffer from motion sickness. Once you reach the port and after having paid your visiting tariffs and fees to the indigenous tribe that owns the islands, you have to take a 30-minute skiff ride to the island. And if that isn’t enough to whet your adventure whistle, you also have to deal with vehicle and passport inspections due to the proximity of the islands to Colombia and the potential for drug trafficking in the area. Patience and a strong stomach would suit you well, but in the end it is well worth the effort.

Continuing the Conversations of Nebraska Corn

For the past few weeks, I have kept very busy in and out of the Nebraska Corn Board Office. I am really enjoying the projects I have been working on, and the events I have been able to attend. On a weekly basis, I have been posting crop progress updates Tuesday's, and on Friday's I post a #FunFactFriday info-graphic that I have designed for the week. I have found that the info-graphics are a great hit and they are a wonderful way to share the message of the Nebraska Corn Board through social media.

As my internship continues to fly by, I am constantly learning more about the corn industry and becoming a better communicator through the process. Not only have I been busy in the office, but I have been out of the office on many occasions as well. Below are some photos of events I have attended along with projects I have been working on...

On June 28, I was able to attend the I-80 Ethanol Night at the Races in Ashland, NE with Sam, the Corn Growers Intern and Victoria, a Corn and Soy Mentor. This was such a great experience being able to promote ethanol at this fun event.

On July 8, I traveled to Omaha, NE for a Storm Chasers baseball game, and the theme for the night was "Ag Night." I met up with Morgan, from the Corn Growers Association and Emily, a Corn and Soy Mentor. I had many great conversations with consumers about the corn industry, and received many great questions regarding ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard. It was rewarding being able to share my knowledge of the corn industry with those who aren't around agriculture on a day-to-day basis.

On July 9, I attended the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute Career Fair on UNL's East Campus. I spoke with high school students from all over the state about opportunities with the Nebraska Corn Board such as internships and scholarships. Since I was in these student's shoes just one year ago, I was able to have such great conversations with them.

Agriculture in Washington D.C.

By Amanda Clymer, US Grains Council Intern

An agriculture quote in the U.S. Capitol. 

As my summer continues in Washington D.C. with the U.S. Grains Council I have had the opportunity to explore further the true impact agriculture has had not only on the United States, but around the world. The Global Programs department, where I have been assisting this summer, has been working throughout June to plan for international trade teams visiting the United States, overseas trade promotion missions and technical consultants traveling overseas.

In the past month, as a part of the Council’s demand building program, three international teams traveled to Midwest to learn about modern swine management techniques in the United States. International teams visited places such as the World Pork Expo, land-grant universities, farms, grain elevators, and export facilities. Recent overseas missions have included corn producers traveling to Japan and Korea to discuss quality and crop progress with major importers and end-users. A trip to Cuba also recently occurred where ag leaders had the opportunity to explore the market development and potential for U.S. coarse grains and co-products in the island nation. Alan Tiemann, a Nebraska corn producer and USGC vice chairman, was one ag leader participating in the mission.  All of these programs are examples of how the people of U.S. agriculture are educating, influencing and impacting other countries and the work their people do to feed the world.

Also while living in Washington D.C. I have taken in many of the sights that the nation’s capital has to offer. I have noticed agriculture in many different locations throughout town that shows me that agriculture has a place in our country’s history. Below are just some pictures of where I have spotted agriculture in Washington D.C. 

A small bronze mural at the World War II Memorial.

Even cattle have a place at the National Portrait Gallery.

The U.S. Botanical Garden has a few corn plants outside that I will be scouting throughout the summer.

I am excited to visit a new exhibit at the National Museum of American History titled the American Enterprise. Part of the exhibit focuses on the innovations in agriculture. The displays include a Fordson tractor, the iconic blue corduroy FFA jacket, information about GM technology development and an interactive modern tractor cab that includes the steering wheel, guidance controls, and yield monitors. More information about the agriculture portion of the exhibit is featured in this article.