Rachael Dose – Nebraska Corn – Lincoln, Nebraska

Journal 1

Hello! My name is Rachael Dose, and I am the Communications and Event Management Intern with Nebraska Corn. I am an Agricultural Communications and Animal Science student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a minor in the Krutsinger Beef Industry Scholars Program. This fall, I will be entering my junior year and am excited to continue building on the skills I'm gaining through this internship experience.  

Agriculture has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. Growing up on my family's cow-calf, feedlot and row crop operation in Minnesota, I spent much of my time showing cattle, helping around the farm and becoming involved in the industry from a young age. As a seventh-generation farm family, I developed an early appreciation for the traditions, relationships and community that agriculture represents. Those experiences helped shape my love for agriculture and eventually led me to pursue a career within the industry.  

My involvement in the Minnesota State Beef Ambassador Program introduced me to the communications side of agriculture and helped spark my passion for storytelling, outreach and connecting people with the industry.  

Since starting my internship with Nebraska Corn in May, I've gained a better understanding of the work that goes into serving growers. Growing up in agriculture, I understood the important role commodity organizations play in supporting producers. Through this internship, I have gained a better appreciation of how communication, outreach and member engagement work together to help organizations carry out their mission.  

I got a glimpse of that on my second day in the office when I attended Governor Jim Pillen's proclamation recognizing May as Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska alongside the Nebraska Corn team. I saw agricultural organizations, industry leaders and state officials come together to highlight the importance of renewable fuels and Nebraska's corn industry. It was a great introduction to Nebraska Corn and the work the organization does on behalf of corn growers. 

One of the projects I've spent the most time on is managing the Nebraska Corn Growers Association's social media accounts. From writing captions to creating graphics and developing posts, I've learned how much thought goes into communicating with members. It has been interesting to see how social media can be used to keep growers informed and engaged while promoting programs, events and industry updates. 

Another area I've spent a lot of time in this summer is graphic design. I've redesigned postcards used for local grower events and created the schedules and talking points for palm cards. As someone who enjoys marketing, branding and visual storytelling, these projects have been especially enjoyable and have allowed me to continue developing my design skills.  

One experience I've really enjoyed this summer was accompanying a Japanese trade team alongside Nebraska Corn staff as they visited a corn farm, an ethanol plant and a cooperative. My role was to take photos throughout the visit, but the experience also allowed me to see how Nebraska Corn connects with markets around the world and the important role exports play in supporting Nebraska corn growers.  

Another project that allowed me to take on more responsibility was helping plan Nebraska Corn's presentation at the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI). Working with another intern, I helped organize and prepare a presentation for NAYI delegates. As someone who has benefited from youth leadership and agricultural education programs, it was rewarding to contribute to an event that encourages students to learn more about the agriculture industry.  

One of the biggest projects I'm currently working on is a membership campaign focused on encouraging growers to join or renew their Nebraska Corn Growers Association membership. As part of that project, I've had the opportunity to visit growers on their operations, interview them and capture photos and videos. Those visits have been some of the most rewarding experiences of my internship so far because they bring together several things I am passionate about. Hearing growers share their stories and experiences has given me a better understanding of the value that a Nebraska Corn Growers Association membership provides to producers across the state.  

One thing I've really enjoyed about the internship is that every day looks a little different. Whether I'm working on a social media post, graphic design project, website update, presentation planning, or visiting growers, I've been able to gain experience in several different areas of agricultural communications. That variety has made each week unique and has given me the opportunity to continue building new skills.  

Looking back on my first few months with Nebraska Corn, I'm grateful for everything I've learned so far. Whether it's managing social media, working on graphic design projects, supporting outreach efforts, or visiting growers across Nebraska, each experience has helped me grow as a communicator and given me a deeper appreciation for the agriculture industry. I'm excited to continue learning from the Nebraska Corn team and look forward to the opportunities ahead through the rest of my internship.