Where are they now: Kaity (Spangler) Bowman

Three-time IL Corn intern Kaity Bowman grew connections, confidence, and passion for ag advocacy that she now shares with Macomb students. 

Kaity Bowman, a three-time IL Corn intern, has taken the skills, knowledge, and “ag family” she gained to create change in the lives of Macomb students and farm safety. 

During her time at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Bowman studied Agricultural Leadership and Science Education. She spent two semesters at IL Corn as a social media intern and one summer as a legislative intern. After graduating in 2018, she began her career as an associate at the Illinois Farm Bureau, before returning closer to home to teach agricultural education at Macomb High School. Bowman’s husband is a corn and soybean farmer, and they welcomed their first child, Karson, last year. 

Bowman has fond memories of her time at IL Corn, including working with fellow social media interns in the Captain Cornelious costume, filming videos, and driving around an ethanol-powered go-kart. These experiences not only built lasting friendships, but gave her a fun, hands-on way to connect with audiences over agriculture. 

Bowman calls her time at IL Corn the highlight of her college experience, with connections that remain strong today. She enjoys seeing members of the IL Corn family at the Farm Progress Show and state fair. While she didn’t pursue a career in political advocacy, her internship grew a lasting passion for agricultural issues and that she now brings into the classroom. 

“This past year, my students and I started a program called flowers for farm safety,” Bowman said. “It’s a flower subscription program, and the money is donated to the Macomb Fire department to purchase grain bin rescue equipment.” 

As the program took shape, Bowman wanted her students to see the real-world impact their efforts could have. She connected with IL Corn to create a hands-on experience, coordinating a class visit to IL Corn’s grain rescue training facility. With the help of The Grain and Feed Association of Illinois, they were able to learn more about grain bin safety and watch a simulated rescue. 

“My students got to have incredible hands-on experiences thanks to my connections at IL Corn,” Bowman said. 

This project was just one way in which Bowman inspires her students to consider a career in agriculture. She says the most rewarding part of teaching is when a student takes one of her classes just because they need to fill a credit but discovers a passion for the industry and takes another agriculture class afterwards. 

“My favorite thing is watching them fall in love with something, whether it is the flower arranging project, a contest, or an activity,” Bowman said. 

She joked that her favorite thing to say is “Tell me what you want to do, and I’ll tie it back to ag.” 

Bowman’s experience highlights that it isn’t always the work that agricultural leaders, educators, and supporters do that matter, but the passion and connection they find within it. 

Her most distinctive memory from her IL Corn internship was an unexpected 12-hour drive back to the office after a flight cancellation in Washington, D.C. Alongside IL Corn staff and a board member, Executive Director Rod Weinzierl drove overnight to avoid what may have been two lengthy days stuck in the airport. Bowman still laughs about the experience today, noting that the group still shares memories from the trip every year. 

While this memory stands out, Bowman says her internship also shaped her understanding of agricultural advocacy, giving her a deeper appreciation for how farmers share their stories and support the industry. 

She says the experience “...solidified how important it is to advocate about what’s important to you and the things that are important to our state and nation.”

Today, Bowman brings that same spirit into her classroom, helping students see how fulfilling a career in agriculture can be. Through the lessons and relationships she built at IL Corn, she continues to create meaningful opportunities across her community, helping the next generation see a place where they can make a difference.

As Bowman tells her students, “Take every opportunity...just try it once.”