Past Summer Interns

Dane Braun, 2009

North Dakota State University

Agribusiness & Applied Economics

For 8 weeks in the summer of 2009, Dane Braun enjoyed working as the ASGA summer intern. During his time at Washington, D.C., Dane was able to discover the different aspects of the city and of United States’ politics.

Dane had the opportunity to meet thirteen congressional representatives and several staff members during fundraising events. Dane discovered that the staff members are very influential in assisting representatives with their decision making process on a particular vote. He had the opportunity to have coffee with the Legislative Assistant of Agriculture for Representative Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota, where he learned about further career opportunities in agriculture and politics.

In addition to attending fundraisers, Dane sat in on multiple meetings including Sugar Industry Biotech Council conference calls, American Sugar Alliance meetings, Farm Foundation forum, and House Agriculture Committee hearings.

The biggest project Dane completed during internship was the graphs he produced for Jack Roney, who is the economist for American Sugar Alliance. The graphs dealt with the United States and Mexico sugar industries. Dane also conducted a Sugar Price Survey for the American Sugar Alliance that computed the percentage cost of sugar in a particular product.

During his off time, Dane enjoyed spending time with his new friends he met at the dorms of American University. One of the best experiences for Dane outside of work was kayaking down the Potomac River with a friend he met in the dorms. Dane also toured the capital, watched the 4^th of July fireworks, played beach volleyball on the National Mall, attended two Washington Nationals baseball games, toured Mount Vernon, watched a show at the Kennedy Center, and toured multiple monuments in Washington.

Dane’s family involvement in the Sugarbeet industry helped make the work he completed at the summer internship more rewarding for him. Dane is very appreciative of the opportunity he had to live, learn and work in Washington, D.C. that the Bill Cleavinger Internship at ASGA gave him.

Lisa Widner, 2008

North Dakota State University

Music Education & Communications

During the summer of 2008, Lisa Widner was able to spend seven unforgettable weeks in Washington, D.C. working as the ASGA summer intern. Lisa especially enjoyed her internship because she was able to participate in many activities.

Lisa attended many meetings during her internship including: Sugar Industry BioTech Council meetings, American Sugar Alliance meetings, lawyer discussions, and the summer board of directors meeting. Lisa also attended many fundraisers for members of congress. Although Lisa enjoyed meeting many members of congress, she enjoyed even more watching the sugar representatives visit with and educate our members of congress on vital issues from back home.

Another one of Lisa’s major activities was assisting the office in preparing a presentation Luther presented to Monsanto in St. Louis about the 2010 tech fee. Lisa also assisted the office in preparation for the summer board of directors meeting.

When Lisa wasn’t busy attending meetings or assisting the office, she focused on her two internship projects. The first project was "Sugar User Businesses by Congressional District" and her second project was the sugar price survey for the American Sugar Alliance. Lisa’s projects were made available to the entire sugar industry.

When Lisa was not busy with work, she took time to enjoy the city of Washington D.C. One of Lisa’s favorite experiences was attending Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure Fundraiser at the Newseum. The event included speeches by members of congress, movie stars, and the founder ofSusan G. Komen. Lisa’s congressman Collin Peterson also performed with his band The Second Amendments at the event. Lisa also attended the 4th of July fireworks at the national mall, a Nationals baseball game, the Smithsonian museums, the National Mall, the Folk Life Festival, the Arlington Cemetery, the Capitol, the Library of Congress, Georgetown, Old Town, the National Cathedral, and a Potomac river boat tour.

Lisa’s experience as the ASGA summer intern was rewarding because she was able to do work that helped an industry that has been such a large part of her life. Lisa will always remember her internship in Washington D.C.and is thankful for all of her experiences she was given through the ASGA summer internship program.

Karen Lewis, 2007

Western Michigan University

Mathematics & Economics

Karen currently attends Western Michigan University where she is majoring in both general mathematics and economics, as well as a minor in comparative religion.

Having lived on a Sugarbeet farm her entire life, Karen has seen first hand how deeply legislation can affect the farming process. While in Washington, D.C., Karen got the opportunity to experience the many different aspects of our Association.

Learning Experiences

2007 Farm Bill

House Subcommittee “Markup” on Specialty Crops

General Commodities Committee “Markup”

Accompanied professional and grower lobbyist on Hill visits

ASGA Board of Directors Meeting

Projects

Research for Biotech Committee

Compiled over 300 dossiers for lobbying appointments

ASGA Summer Board Meeting Preparation

Cultural Experience and Education

Arlington Cemetery

Air & Space Museum

D.C. United Soccer game

White House

Vietnam and Korean War Memorial

WWII Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Played on congressional softball team

4th of July on National Mall

Folk Life Festival

Kelly Cleavinger, 2006

Midwestern State University

Marketing

The 2006 ASGA Cleavinger Intern was Kelly Cleavinger, from Hereford, Texas. She is the granddaughter of Bill Cleavinger, past President of ASGA (1988-1990), and the Internship was established by her family in Bill’s memory. Kelly took advantage of the many opportunities to experience the greatest number and widest range of the different aspects of our Association and Washington, DC.

Kelly attended hearings of the Ways and Means Committee on U.S-Peru Free Trade Agreement and tracked the debate and vote on the U.S.-Oman FTA. She attended a sugar industry meeting of 30 sugar industry CEOs and grower leaders; a Summer ASGA Board Meeting, and various meetings of the American Sugar Alliance.

With her farm and ranch background, Kelly understands agricultural issues, but she now has a much greater understanding of our government’s role in agriculture and the role of the ASGA in representing the interests of sugarbeet growers. Her projects included an update of the industry’s international trade briefing book; a food price survey; and work on the ASGA website. Some of the highlights for her were meeting members of Congress, experiencing the Fourth of July in the nation’s capital, and attending the Board of Directors meeting. It was truly a rewarding experience for both Kelly and the ASGA staff, and it was a pleasure to have her with us.

Tina Mauch, 2005

University of North Dakota

Marketing

The American Sugarbeet Growers Association had the good fortune of selecting Tina Mauch as our 2005 Summer Intern. Having been raised on a farm, Tina understood agricultural issues, but she now has a much greater understanding of our government's role in agriculture. During her internship, Tina got the opportunity to experience the many different aspects of our association, national/international policies, and politics.

Here are a few of those experiences:

Learning Experiences

Senate Finance Committee “Mock Markup” on the Central America Free Trade Agreement

U.S. International Trade Commission Hearing

Senate Debate on CAFTA

Senate Sweetener Caucus Meeting

United States Department of Agriculture Workshop

Sugar Industry Meeting

U.S. Sugar Industry Representative Meetings

ASGA Summer Board Meeting

Projects

International Trade Briefing Book for the U.S. Sugar Industry

ASGA 2005 Directory

ASGA Website

Powerpoint presentation on the Federal Budget

Culture Experiences and Education

Antietam National Battlefield

Smithsonian museums

Waterfront Festival in Old Town Alexandria, VA

4th of July on the National Mall

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

“Monuments by Moonlight” Tour

Wolf Trap Theater

Washington Nationals Game