Farmer Relations

Location: Remote with required travel to Springfield, IL

Midwest Dairy is excited to offer a Farmer Relations internship opportunity to students interested in communications, public relations, marketing, or agribusiness.

The Farmer Relations Internship provides students with hands-on experience in agricultural communications, event planning, and stakeholder engagement within the dairy industry. Interns will gain professional skills in writing, event planning, and relationship management while supporting Midwest Dairy's mission to build trust and demand for dairy.

What You Bring:

• Excellent communication skills, including strong writing and public speaking abilities

• Highly organized, with the ability to manage tasks independently while incorporating direction as needed

• Familiarity with or understanding of state fairs and their operations

• Background or strong interest in agricultural communications and the agriculture industry

• Proficient in computer programs such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, and Canva

What We Offer:

We value our interns and provide fair compensation, a great work environment, and valuable resources that go beyond your experience here.

• $7000 Stipend (provided completion of internship)
• Training and development opportunities.

• Copies of completed projects, articles, and other materials for personal portfolio. (Privacy Policies Apply)

• Mentorship & Connections to Industry Leaders.

• Creation of an online portfolio that highlights your work and experience, culminating in a virtual presentation and showcased to your colleagues.

• Expense reimbursement

What You Will Be Responsible For:

Communication & Storytelling

• Write a press release announcing Illinois & Iowa Division scholarship recipients.
• Create engaging farmer profiles for use on Midwest Dairy's website and promotional materials.

• Write intern testimonials and post-event summaries (PIAs) highlighting key learnings and experiences.

• Conduct media interviews during the Illinois State Fair, sharing insights from the internship and fair preparations.

Education and Outreach

• Develop and deliver educational presentations to teachers at Illinois Ag in the Classroom Summer Ag Institutes, promoting Midwest Dairy's classroom resources (2-3 sessions statewide).

• Participate in State Fair Live and other public engagement activities to promote dairy checkoff.

• Assist with covering open houses and community outreach events.

Event Planning & Volunteer Coordination

• Recruit and coordinate volunteers for the Illinois State Fair Dairy Building, including scheduling, logistics, and onsite hospitality (e.g., distributing shirts, meals, and ice cream tickets).

• Work with the communications department to draft social posts and emails related to volunteer recruitment.

• Assist with event signage and coordination with local vendors.

• Support farmer-focused activities at the Illinois State Fair, including exhibitor appreciation events like the Junior Pizza Party and donut distribution.

Leadership Development

• Conduct research on potential leadership development opportunities for Iowa and Illinois Ambassadors, contributing to future programming for 2026.
• Support planning and implementation of Iowa leadership development events, including princess communicationstraining and coronation.

• Collaborate with both Iowa and Illinois Farmer Relations Managers on cross-state projects and events.

Professional Development & Team Collaboration

• Participate in regular staff check-ins to share progress, discuss goals, and reflect on professional growth.
• Attending and planning staff engagements through the Employee Advisory Group (EAG) to connect with Midwest Dairy team members.

• Support consumer events across all Midwest Dairy strategies (2-3 per season).

• Travel up to 20%, sometimes overnight, to meetings supporting organization initiatives.

Requirements/Eligibility:

• Eighteen (18) years old before the start of the internship

• Either a permanent resident of one of the following states: Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota OR Currently attending a two- or four-year college in one of these states.

• A background in agriculture or dairy farming is NOT REQUIRED. We encourage candidates from all varying backgrounds to consider applying.

• Pass a background check.

• Current driver's license or have access to reliable transportation to on-site work or meeting locations.

• Family members of Midwest Dairy farmer board directors or staff are ineligible for consideration unless the Midwest Dairy Corporate Board grants a special exception.

• Candidates who are current Midwest Dairy state ambassadors or dairy princesses/candidates are not eligible unless they are willing to give up their ambassador or princess position if selected for the internship.

• Applicants must be available to work 40 hours per week. The period of this internship is early June through late August. The start and end date for the internship are flexible but must be finalized with the Internship Supervisor on or by April 1, 2026.

Application Requirements

• Cover Letter

• Resume

• Three (3) writing samples that showcase your alignment with the work.

• Two references (including name, relationship to applicant, phone number, and email address.

General Timeline: (Tentative and can change)

• Application Deadline: December 5, 2025

• 1st and 2nd round interviews: Starts in December 2025

• Final selection/offer complete by January 16, 2026

Who We Are:

Midwest Dairy is a non-profit organization striving to achieve the mission ofBringing Dairy to Life for a Better World.We represent approximately 3,600 dairy farm families and work on their behalf to build dairy demand by inspiring consumer confidence in our products and production practices.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Midwest Dairy is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, status in public assistance, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran. If you need to inquire about accommodation, or need assistance with completing the application process, please email hr@midwestdairy.com.

---