ASTA Bids Farewell to Summer Interns

This summer, ASTA was fortunate to have the assistance of two interns, Abbie Putnam, University of Florida, and Ryan Williamson, Texas A&M. Some of you may have had the opportunity to meet them during the ASTA Leadership Summit in Indianapolis. Abbie, ASTA’s government affairs intern, and Ryan, ASTA’s communications intern, completed their internships on Friday, July 29, and are currently preparing to head back to school for the fall.

“My summer with ASTA has been a truly impactful experience,” said Abbie, a rising senior studying agricultural communications and Spanish with a minor in leadership. “As I go into my senior year of college, I hope to continue to advocate for U.S. agriculture and the seed industry,” she says. Key highlights for Abbie included learning more about the upcoming Farm Bill and how it can affect the seed industry and gaining a better understanding of the seed industry and its role in U.S. and international agriculture by attending meetings with the ASTA government affairs staff.

Ryan is a rising junior in the Business Honors program and working toward a certificate in International Trade and Agriculture. He assisted the ASTA team with communications content around sustainability, plant breeding innovation and the Leadership Summit. Not only did he learn a lot about communications, Ryan says he’s leaving his term with a much greater understanding of agriculture and sustainability from the seed industry’s perspective. “As I move back to Texas, I will always remember the connections I’ve made and the lessons I have learned from my time with ASTA,” he says.

Fun fact about Ryan: he was selected to represent his home state of Texas as its candidate for the National FFA Officer Selection process. At the National FFA Convention in October, one candidate from each state will participate in an intense process consisting of interviews, an extemporaneous speech, facilitating a workshop, and industry stakeholder conversations. Through this process, six individuals are selected for the National FFA Officer Team, traveling across the U.S. to deliver workshops and keynotes at state conventions, meet with industry stakeholders, and represent student members during the board of directors’ meetings. He’s currently preparing for the interview process and building his knowledge of agriculture.

We look forward to staying in touch and wish them both the best of luck in their future endeavors!