Having the opportunity to work as an intern in Washington, D.C. is exciting enough, but working on national policy issues for the beef industry is something else altogether. Just ask Maggie Weinroth, a Colorado State University student pursing an animal science master’s degree focused on meat science, who is spending fall 2015 as an intern for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s policy office in Washington, D.C.
“I am enjoying that no day is the same,” said Weinroth, “with some days spent on the hill listening in on meetings, meeting with various federal agencies, doing backgrounds research on issues or meeting with members of Congress to discuss issues important to the beef industry. Though I’m just a few weeks into the semester, I have been engaged on several issues and I’m excited for a busy fall.”
Transitioning from college to career
Kristina Butts, NCBA’s senior executive director of government affairs, said she is happy to see passionate and hard-working students like Weinroth pursue internships as they begin the transition from college to their career.
“NCBA’s public policy interns are valuable staff members of our team in D.C., and the internship provides college students a one-of-a-kind view into the policy making process,” said Butts. “Our interns work closely with the lobbying team on Capitol Hill and assist with NCBA’s regulatory efforts. I highly recommend that any student interested in public policy and the cattle industry specifically to come to D.C. and learn first-hand how decisions made every day the nation’s Capital impact the industry on all levels. It’s such a unique and valuable experience that will benefit you regardless of your career path.”
During her time as an undergraduate, Weinroth also spent time in the political realm. She served as an intern for then-Colorado Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg who is now a Colorado State Senator. Sonnenberg was a member of the Colorado House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources. Weinroth split her time between living on the CSU campus in Fort Collins and travelling to Denver, Colorado’s capital, to work with Sonnenberg.
‘Outstanding representative’
“Maggie is an outstanding representative of our university, and especially of our department and our college,” said Kevin Pond, head of the CSU Department of Animal Sciences. “Collaborations with industry are a hallmark of both our teaching and our research, and the NCBA has helped us foster and cultivate our relationships with beef producers throughout the United States. Internships like Maggie’s are highly-competitive and her success at NCBA testifies to the high-caliber of students that we produce.”
