College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) students pursue a variety of careers after graduation. Some students become geneticists and nutritionists while some work in conservation and policy. Last summer, CALS students Esther Fulford and Julia Heijkoop received Carl Loop Legislative Internship Scholarships via the VP Promise to support internships with Representative Kat Cammack. The duo’s responsibilities while in Washington, D.C. included communicating with constituents, conducting research and giving Capitol tours. They also attended committee meetings and prepared briefings to present to Rep. Cammack.
For Fulford, an agricultural education and communication senior, her favorite task was giving Capitol tours. She led an average of two tours a week to Cammack’s constituents. Many tour guests were families visiting D.C. on vacation.
“I loved being able to show them parts of the Capitol they wouldn’t have usually seen and giving them a chance to hear more about what the Congresswoman is doing to represent them,” Fulford said.
Heijkoop, an agricultural operations management junior, mostly worked with Rep. Cammack’s Deputy Chief of Communications during her internship. She gathered press conference materials, proofread scripts, and communicated with constituents daily. These experiences gave Heijkoop a better understanding of how important unanimity is.
“Working on Capitol Hill gave me a brand-new perspective on how invaluable bipartisanship is when it comes to uniting our country,” said Heijkoop. “This summer taught me how important it is to listen to understand and try to find a solution rather than listening to respond.”
Additionally, Heijkoop worked on a briefing for a sub-committee hearing on the Farm Bill. In these hearings, the House Committee on Agriculture discussed the addition of a permanent disaster relief program to the bill. Heijkoop’s Florida dairy background fuels her passion for agricultural disaster relief.
“My family and our farm were directly hit by Hurricane Idalia in 2023,” said Heijkoop. “This permanent disaster relief program would be a huge move in the right direction for Florida farmers and producers across the nation.”
Fulford and Heijkoop both plan to pursue careers where they can influence agricultural policy.
“I am very grateful for the CALS support that allowed me to participate in this program,” said Fulford. “I met so many people I wouldn’t have otherwise and learned more about the issues that Americans are facing every day.”
The VP Promise offers financial support to students engaging in experiential learning opportunities within agriculture, natural resources and related sciences. The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is dedicated to fostering student development and success, encouraging students to expand their horizons through participation in study abroad programs, leadership roles, scholarly conferences, and other enriching experiences.
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