Abby Coers’ Ag Comm Journey: Starting with IL Corn, Soaring with Central Illinois Ag

How IL Corn Empowered One Intern to Lead in Ag Storytelling

In the summer of 2010, while many college students were reporting to office cubicles, Abby Coers was carving her own path, interning remotely for IL Corn. This unique experience became the foundation of a successful and fulfilling career in agricultural communications.

IL Corn tasked her with representing Illinois agriculture online in her own unique way.

Social media was still very new. Coers didn’t even own a smartphone until the following year. But that didn’t stop her from diving headfirst into the digital world.

“Back then, no one really knew how to use social media strategically,” Coers said. “IL Corn gave me the opportunity to learn by doing.”

Coers chose to focus on social media strategy and blogging. The internship offered her a unique opportunity to experiment, build, and learn from scratch how to successfully utilize social media as a marketing tool.

She launched a Facebook page called Agriculture Everyday to promote agriculture to the public.

It didn’t take long for Coers to realize that effective social media was more than just posting pictures, it required thought, timing, and a clear strategy.

“You have to figure out how to reach your audience and get the most out of every post,” she said. “That’s something I learned early on from IL Corn, and I still use it today.”

Beyond the technical skills, the internship helped Coers grow professionally. She learned how to communicate effectively through writing and how to present herself in a professional digital space.

One of her key takeaways was professionalism in communication means knowing your audience, delivering value, and using critical thinking skills.

Fast forward more than a decade, and Coers has transformed that hands-on training into a successful career. She has been with Central Illinois Ag for 12 years, where she leads all social media efforts and oversees creating the company’s publication: Live. Work. Grow.

Her work includes photography, journalism, and design, developing impactful campaigns, and sharing real stories of farmers and ag business owners from the ag community.

“I love my job. It is so much fun,” she said.

In addition to her love for the creative side, Coers understands the importance of results.

“At the end of the day, you have to look at the analytics,” she said. “Is what you’re doing working? What do you need to change? That analytical mindset started with IL Corn.”

“Social media has changed so much, but I still utilize the skills and knowledge I gained from IL Corn,” she says. “That internship laid the groundwork for my communication skills.”

From a remote intern to a professional ag communicator, Coers’ journey is a testament to the power of early opportunity, self-motivation, and the value of an organization that believes in its interns.