MADISON – Brooke Beardsley, Katie Cink, Kelly Herness and Brooke Wittrock have been selected to intern with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau during the coming year. Together they will assist in promoting and communicating for WFBF programs throughout the spring and summer of 2025.
“Internships provide meaningful opportunities for young people to get exposed to careers in agriculture,” said WFBF President Brad Olson. “We are excited to welcome these four young leaders to the WFBF team and to leverage their unique assets to keep our communications and programming moving forward.”
Brooke Wittrock, Agriculture in the Classroom intern
Brooke Wittrock has been selected as the organization’s Agriculture in the Classroom intern. Wittrock grew up near Bloomer and graduated from Bloomer High School in 2023. After graduating, she served as the 2023-2024 Wisconsin FFA State Sentinel. Wittrock is currently studying agricultural education at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is an active member in Collegiate Farm Bureau and serves as Vice President of the Agricultural Education Society.
During her internship, Wittrock will design agricultural literacy lessons, supporting materials and training resources, tailored for volunteer agricultural literacy programs. She will assist with communicating Agriculture in the Classroom programming efforts and provide program event coverage throughout the summer. Wittrock will begin her duties on May 19.
Brooke Beardsley, Leadership and Programs Intern
Brooke Beardsley was raised near Baraboo on her family’s beef farm where she grew a love for agriculture and anything animal related. Beardsley is a student at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where she is studying animal science and agricultural marketing and communications. Throughout college she has been active in Collegiate Farm Bureau where she serves as an Ag Day on Campus Co-Chair as well as the CAFES Student Advisory Council Secretary amongst many other clubs and organizations. Beardsley looks forward to gaining valuable experience in this role and networking with agriculturists across the state.
During her internship, Beardsley will support the organization’s leadership development programs including Young Farmer and Agriculturists and FFA. She will assist with social media content creation and program promotion across the state. Beardsley will begin her duties on May 19.
Katie Cink, Gather Wisconsin Intern
Katie Cink has been selected as the organization’s Gather Wisconsin intern. Cink is from Madison Lake, Minn. and is currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls studying agricultural education with a minor in animal science. She is active in UW-River Falls’ Agriculture Education Society, CAFES Student Advisory Council, Alpha Tau Alpha and Collegiate Farm Bureau. She is excited to work with WFBF’s consumer brand, Gather Wisconsin, to learn more about and promote Wisconsin agriculture.
During her internship, Cink will assist in the day-to-day management and marketing of GatherWisconsin.com, its social media presence and promotional events throughout the summer. Cink will begin her duties on May 19.
Kelly Herness, Communications Intern
Kelly Herness has been selected as the organization’s Communications intern. She grew up on her family’s farm in Trempealeau County, where she developed an immense appreciation for agriculture. Herness was actively involved with her local FFA chapter and served on the Wisconsin DATCP Youth Council from 2021-2022. Herness is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying agriculture and applied economics, life sciences communication, and public policy. She is active in UW-Madison’s Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter and the Association of Women in Agriculture. She looks forward to gaining experience working with communications and policy in Wisconsin agriculture through her internship.
During her internship, Herness will assist in managing the organization’s social media presence, creating content for WFBF communication channels and contributing to the organization’s blog. Herness began her duties on January 9.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is committed to embracing sustainable solutions for a stronger tomorrow. Made up of 61 county Farm Bureaus, it represents agriculturists and farms of every size, commodity and management style.
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