INTERNSHIP

I began my internship with the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) in January 2024. What was originally planned as a semester-long opportunity evolved into over a year-long experience, thanks to the organization offering me the chance to extend my internship three times—ultimately continuing through the end of spring 2025.

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During my time at USCP, I’ve had the opportunity to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application. As a member of the communications team, I’ve assisted with a wide variety of projects that support the organization’s mission to promote sorghum as a sustainable and marketable crop. My day-to-day responsibilities have included drafting and editing content for press releases, newsletters and social media, as well as conducting research to support ongoing communications campaigns. I’ve also collaborated closely with team members to ensure consistent messaging across multiple platforms, helping to maintain the organization’s professional and forward-thinking brand identity.

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One of the highlights of my internship has been the opportunity to travel with the team to major industry events, including Commodity Classic in Houston, TX, and Denver, CO. These trips gave me hands-on exposure to event planning, stakeholder engagement and the broader agricultural communications landscape. They also allowed me to network with professionals across the industry, deepening my understanding of sorghum’s role in the U.S. agricultural economy.

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Another milestone was designing the full-page advertisement for the 2024 edition of The Agriculturist, a student-led publication at Texas Tech University. Being trusted with a project of that scale was both a challenge and an honor, and it helped refine my skills in graphic design, branding and deadline management.

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Overall, this internship has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic career. It has deepened my passion for agricultural communications, taught me how to work effectively in a fast-paced and mission-driven environment, and equipped me with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the professional world.