From intern to leader: How an IL Corn internship shaped Kacie Claire’s career in agriculture

Where are they now: Kacie Claire

In the summer of 2019, just before her junior year of college, Kacie Claire interned with IL Corn. That experience deepened her passion for supporting the agricultural community, a commitment she continues to pursue in her current role as the Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager, where she’s been for the past two years.

What makes the IL Corn internship program unique is its flexibility. Each intern’s experience is tailored to their interests, goals, and skill sets. For Kacie and her fellow intern, that meant diving into video production.

Kacie learned a great deal from her co-intern, who had a background in news production. She picked up skills like capturing B-roll, choosing the right camera angles, and transforming written content into compelling video stories. She also learned about photography, understanding what elements a photo needs to tell a complete story.

Her major project that summer involved visiting every ethanol plant across Illinois. The interns filmed footage, conducted interviews, and created videos that highlighted the role of ethanol in the state’s corn industry.

Beyond video production, Kacie also gained valuable marketing experience, including design work, skills that she continues to use in her career today.

Most importantly, the internship was her first exposure to a professional work environment. “I learned how to collaborate and work effectively in a team,” she said. At the time, Kacie was transitioning from Lakeland College to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she would begin her junior year studying agricultural communications. The internship gave her a strong foundation and boosted her confidence heading into university life.

Kacie graduated from Illinois in 2021 and soon after stepped into her current role in Gilman, IL. “We do just about everything here,” she said. “We focus on information, legislation, and education, all things I was introduced to during my time at IL Corn.”

“No two days are the same,” she said.

Kacie credits her internship for equipping her with both technical and interpersonal skills that she uses daily. “The contacts I made at IL Corn, I still work with or stay in touch with many of them today,” she said. “We work closely with commodity groups, like IL Corn. The ag industry is like a big family, it’s a very network-driven community.”



Kacie Claire’s story is a testament to how a well-matched internship can do more than build a resume, it can shape a career. Once an intern, Kacie is now a leader in the agricultural industry.