On one side of the gap is agriculture. On the other, legislators. And crossing the bridge between them is K-Stater Erin Driscoll.
Growing up on a purebred Angus cow-calf operation in Iowa, Erin Driscoll always had a heart for agriculture. On the flip side, her mother is a state senator, giving Driscoll a window into the legislative world.
Now at K-State, Driscoll is majoring in agricultural and natural resources communications with a minor in public relations. To her surprise, she was selected to receive the Morse Family and Community Public Policy Scholarship from K-State Libraries.
Travel time
Through this scholarship, Driscoll secured a government affairs internship with the Iowa Pork Producers Association, an opportunity that will take her from K-State to Washington D.C. and back to Iowa.
“What I really like about this internship is that I get to do both Iowa and D.C.,” Driscoll said. “I’ve never had experience with the federal government, so I really wanted to get my foot in the door and see if I liked it.”
Working to close the gap between agriculture and public policy, Driscoll will work in a congressional office and then coordinate operations for the Iowa Pork tent at the Iowa State Fair, an event she is particularly familiar with.
“I’m most excited to see how the pork tent is run at the Iowa State Fair,” she said. “It’s such a large event, and I’ve never been behind the scenes before, so I’m really looking forward to seeing all the preparation and how everything comes together. I’m also excited to help give farmers an opportunity to be part of the state fair in a meaningful way and connect with people they wouldn’t normally see.”
By the end of her internship, Driscoll hopes to make meaningful connections and gain a better understanding of what her future holds.
“By the end of this internship, I hope to build strong connections in both Iowa and Washington, D.C.,” she said. “I want to understand what people are looking for in this industry and start building relationships that can guide my future career.”
By Kate Ellwood
Curated from Bridging the gap