A selfie in front of the White House during her internship with the IL Corn Growers Association solidified a career path in Kylie Bohman’s mind.
Bohman’s trip with the organization in 2017 was an early step towards her current role as a legislative aide covering agriculture and energy for Missouri Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO). Bohman is one of numerous young adults impacted by the commodity group’s youth and internship programs.
“I thought, give me a job where I can take a walk and see the White House,” she said. “Now, I could do that every day if I wanted to.”
Originally a political science major at the University of Illinois, agriculture was not a piece of Bohman’s background. However, friends within the University’s College of ACES led her to change her major and connected her with IL Corn. “With IL Corn, I felt like the agriculture industry gave me a really good direction, and specialty knowledge that I was able to see in general politics,” Bohman said. “I enjoyed getting practical knowledge on how the world works.”
In addition to internships, IL Corn invests in the industry’s youth by sponsoring a trip for Illinois FFA State officers and section presidents to attend the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Congress. This July, Illinois’s five state FFA major officers and 25 section presidents were given a voice alongside ICGA to discuss federal legislation impacting Illinois farmers.
A participant in IL Corn’s 2018 and 2019 summer fly-ins, Brodee McCormick felt confident in himself and his path in Washington D.C. on the first day of his internship this summer.
Although his beginning and end point on the city’s metro were different, his experience visiting D.C. as an FFA officer gave him the background he needed to navigate his role as the policy intern for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council. “Those trips gave a sense of inspiration, like I could do this,” McCormick said. “It gave me the realization I could have a small part or big part in that too.”
Also, an FFA officer on the organization’s 2018 and 2019 trips, Emma Freebairn spent her summer as an intern for the U.S Grains Council. Freebairn first encountered the organization on her trip to D.C. five years ago. She said her prior experiences in D.C. with Illinois FFA laid a solid foundation for her role.
Source: ilcorn.org
Photo Credit: gettyimages-lishanskyphotography
Categories: Illinois, Government & Policy