Get to Know IL Corn's 2011 Summer Interns
We at Illinois Corn look forward to working with our summer interns this year and we want you to get to know them a little better as well.
Jonathan Greenstein
My name is Jonathan Greenstein and I am the Legislative Intern for the Illinois Corn Growers Association. I am twenty-two years old and am from Buffalo Grove Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago. Last spring I graduated from Illinois State University, earning a BS in Communication with a minor in Political Science. Next fall I will return to Illinois State University to begin a two year masters program in Communication.
Last spring I interned for the Illinois Corn Marketing Board using social media applications to connect rural and urban communities throughout Illinois. I also performed research for ICMB to help design an effecting marketing plan for advertising on a variety of social media platforms.
This summer I have found my passion in government affairs. Over the past month, I have learned a world of information shadowing the ICGA lobbyist and researching corn-grower priority issues. My duties throughout the summer will be to continue monitoring Illinois Ag-politics in Springfield, federal politics in Washington DC, creating fact sheets for corn-grower initiatives, acquiring informative data sets, coordinating ICGA's DC trip and whatever else is asked of me.
The part of the internship I am looking forward to the most is our trip to Washington, DC in July. The trip to DC will be my first trip back since junior-high and I am incredibly excited to see DC from the viewpoint of a grass root organization lobbying.
I look forward to continue learning more about the Ag community and seeing truly how connected it is to the rest of the world.
Lauren Knapp
Although I have lived in four different states, I now call Georgia “home.” I recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Illinois State University in Renewable Energy Economics and Public Policy and was recognized as Outstanding Student of the Year in my program. There, I served as President of my student organization, The Renewable Energy Society, and successfully acquired a grant to complete a feasibility study for an ISU solar energy system. In August, I start graduate school at University of Michigan in Environmental Policy and Planning; I envision myself going to law school upon receiving my M.S. to pursue and environmental law degree.
I am blessed to hold the world at my fingertips and have experienced a wide range of cultures in varying locations including Brazil, Easter Island, Galapagos, Japan, and Israel. Before starting high school, I was an exchange student with a family in Northern France for a month where I acquired a passion for French culture, language, history, and… food!
Last summer, I served as Business Development Intern for Iberdrola Renewables, the world’s leader in wind energy development. This experience opened my eyes to sustainable alternatives to current energy options. I ended up with the ICMB and ICGA team because I recognize the importance of supporting local economies and diversifying fuels in our energy portfolio. During this summer, I look forward to building upon my knowledge of the regional corn industry while educating others about its significant impacts in our daily lives.
Jenna Richardson
Growing up in the small town of Cisne, Illinois, agriculture has always been a big part of my life. As soon as I could I became actively involved in 4-H. When high school rolled around I was a very active member in the Cisne FFA chapter where I received my American FFA Degree last fall. When it came time to think about college, there was no doubt in my mind that Agriculture would be the path that I would travel down.
I am now a senior at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where I will receive my BS in Agricultural Communications in December 2011.
While at school I work for WSIU Public Broadcasting where I serve as the Photographer/Promotions/Graphics Assistant. My job consists of assembling a monthly newsletter for WSIU Public Radio. I am also is in charge of photography for some of the events WSIU hosts. Sending news advisories, writing press releases, and editing photographs are just a few of my duties as a student worker for WSIU Public Broadcasting.
I also work for TSS Photography out of Marion, Illinois as one of their main photographers. Organizing and shooting group and individual photographs for youth sports leagues is my main responsibility as a worker for TSS.
Outside of class and work I am involved in many student organizations within the College of Agricultural Sciences such as Agbassadors (students that represent the COAS and visit high schools to promote SIUC College of Agricultural Sciences), Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority, Collegiate FFA, and Forestry Club.
I became interested in the Illinois Corn internship because they offered a communications position first of all. But I am very interested in promoting agriculture and making everyone aware that agriculture does affect his or her daily life so I thought this internship would be a good fit for me. Being very interested in photography as well, I am looking forward to making videos that will make others aware of agriculture.
Brittany Hosselton
Brittany Hosselton is currently the Ag in the Classroom intern for the Illinois Corn Marketing Board/Illinois Corn Growers Association. Originally, she is from Clay City, Illinois, where she grew up on her family’s multi-generation grain and livestock farm.
After high school Brittany attended Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, and has recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelors of Science in Agricultural Education. Her future plans include attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this fall to start her Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Education. Due to her passion for agriculture and education, she is very excited to educate teachers about corn this summer!