NWB Intern Abby Hirschman Reflects on Her Internship

Abby Hirschman, a sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln majoring in Agricultural Communications, recently completed her internship as the Communications and Outreach Intern with the Nebraska Wheat Board (NWB), gaining valuable experience in agricultural communications and industry outreach.  

The internship provided hands-on experiences in agriculture communications, outreach, promotion, industry networking and the chance to advocate for Nebraska’s wheat industry.  Hirschman served in the role from August through May.

During her time with NWB, Hirschman worked across a variety of communication platforms, including social media, news releases and e-newsletters. She assisted with a wide range of projects promoting Nebraska’s wheat industry and connecting with producers, consumers and industry partners. A few of her responsibilities included creating and managing social media content, writing press releases and articles and facilitating newsletters.

Hirschman started her internship as an Agribusiness major, initially trying to explore different areas in the agriculture industry.  As the internship progressed, she found a strong interest in communications through her work with the NWB.  This experience led her to switch her major to Agricultural Communications, showing how impactful the internship was in shaping her future career path.

“This internship helped me realize how much I enjoy telling agriculture’s story through numerous platforms,” Hirschman said.  “I’ve gained confidence in my communication skills and learned how important it is to share accurate information about the wheat industry.”

In addition to her work in the office, Hirschman participated in several agricultural events and conferences including Husker Harvest Days, Nebraska Wheat & Alfalfa Expo, Women in Agriculture Conference and the Nebraska State FFA Convention.  These experiences provided opportunities to connect with producers, students, and industry professionals while gaining a better understanding of the Nebraska wheat industry.  

“I really enjoyed working both in the office and attending events with the staff,” Hirschman said. “Being able to see the behind-the-scenes work while also interacting directly with producers and consumers gave me a better understanding of how important communication is in agriculture.”

A highlight of her internship was attending the U.S. Wheat Associations and National Association of Wheat Growers Joint Meeting in Washington D.C.  While there, Hirschman attended national committee meetings, created social media content, and listened to discussions on agricultural policy and key issues impacting wheat producers across the country.  She also had the opportunity to engage with congressional representatives and industry leaders, gaining insight into wheat advocacy on a national level.

“Going to Washington D.C. was one of my favorite experiences with this internship,”  Hirschman said. “I had never been there before, and it was really impactful to see how senators and representatives listen to the concerns of the wheat industry.  It was eye opening for me to experience the importance of producers’ voices at the national level.”

Hirschman expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to work with the NWB and the people she met throughout her internship.  In addition to strengthening her communication skills, she developed experience in time management, event coordination, interpersonal skills and collaboration.  

“I’m really grateful for everything I learned during this internship and the connections I made,” Hirschman said. “I’ve gained skills that I know will help me in my future career, and I’m excited to continue building on those experiences moving forward.”

Following her internship, Hirschman plans to continue developing her skills in agricultural communications while completing her degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  She intends to stay involved in the agriculture industry and continue sharing the story of Nebraska agriculture and its producers.  

For more information about Nebraska wheat internship opportunities, visit: https://nebraskawheat.gov/about-us/about-nwb/student-internships/.