Since 2005, the Bill Cleavinger Summer Internship Program has given students firsthand experience in agricultural policy and advocacy in Washington, D.C. Meet the talented individuals who have represented sugarbeet growers on Capitol Hill.
Gabby Schneider
University of Minnesota · Agricultural Communications & Marketing, Applied Economics
Originally from Morris, MN where her family farms corn, soybeans, edible black beans, and sugar beets. While in Washington, Gabby attended several political fundraisers and receptions for Members of Congress. She attended the House Agriculture Committee hearing for the testimony of USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and was a part of educating members of the House and Senate about the importance of a strong sugar policy. She also closely monitored several relevant topics including the Make America Healthy Again movement and pertinent trade events such as antidumping and countervailing suspension agreements and work to resolve import circumvention schemes. Gabby was introduced to the wide spectrum of interests that are a part of the sugar industry. She attended several meetings with diverse areas of expertise including the monthly American Sugar Alliance Executive Board meeting. Additionally, she made an effective presentation about her experiences for our Summer Board of Directors meeting in Boise, Idaho.
Todd Lackman
Montana State University · Broadfield Teaching, Agricultural Business · Bozeman, MT
Todd has a passion for agriculture, especially education and advocacy for production agriculture. He grew up on a family farm in southeastern Montana, and has owned a small farming enterprise and been a shareholder in the Western Sugar Cooperative. Being a farm hand himself, he has experience operating tillage, planters, sprayers and harvesting equipment as well as irrigation and repairing equipment. He served as State Treasurer for the Montana FFA Association and Treasurer/Public Director for the Montana FFA Alumni Association.
Abigail Mueller
North Dakota State University · Agribusiness, Crop & Weed Sciences
Abigail’s father currently sits on the American Crystal Board of Directors. Through her internship with ASGA, she had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the processes that achieve a successful and sustainable economic policy in the sugarbeet industry. She was able to utilize her family farm experiences and educational background to work on special projects that may be used in current or future efforts by the association.
Jack Brainard
North Dakota State University · Business Administration · Ada, MN
A second-generation beet grower, Jack’s parents, John and Janet Brainard, raise sugarbeets on the family farm in Ada, Minnesota. John is a member of the ASGA Board of Directors and the American Crystal Sugar Cooperative Board of Directors. Through his internship, Jack gained a better understanding of the processes that achieve a successful and sustainable economic policy in the sugarbeet industry.
Megan Stevens
Agricultural Economics · Montevideo, MN
Megan’s family has been involved in the industry for generations. As an original shareholder in the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative, her grandfather started a legacy that continues to this day. Her internship helped her understand the vast array of issues the ASGA office follows. She was included in conference calls, press release edits, fundraisers and industry meetings. The biggest project she worked on was organizing the ASGA Biotech Spokeswomen team. Megan also launched the ASGA Facebook page, designing it as a resource for sugarbeet farmers.
Jacob Chisholm
North Dakota State University · Agricultural Economics
While in Washington, Jacob attended political fundraisers and receptions, and played an active role in monitoring the antidumping and countervailing duty cases filed against Mexico by the U.S. sugar industry. He provided research correlating the AD/CVD cases used to defend the U.S. steel industry and completed a presentation explaining the safety of genetic engineering. Jacob also attended the monthly American Sugar Alliance Executive Board meetings and the summer ASGA Board of Directors meeting in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Leah Kramer
Concordia College · Global Studies, History & Art History
During the summer of 2012, Leah was able to extend her knowledge of current agricultural issues and observe first-hand the efforts behind farm policy. She participated in projects related to the farm bill, biotechnology, and labelling initiatives. Leah also met representatives from Monsanto, Syngenta, and CropLife America, deepening her understanding of biotechnology’s role in the modern sugar industry.
Heather Carlquist
University of Oklahoma · Political Science & History · Eden, ID
Born and raised on her parent’s farm in Eden, Idaho, Heather chose the Cleavinger Internship to combine her knowledge of farm life with her fascination with government. She hoped to return to Idaho with a greater understanding of how the political side of farming works — and bring back to Oklahoma a new appreciation of government to share with her future students as a high school history and government teacher.
Ashlyn Gurley
University of Michigan · Political Science & Environmental Studies
Ashlyn accompanied ASGA staff to meetings with the American Sugar Alliance, agriculture committee hearings, and meetings on climate change, biotechnology and biofuel research. She met twenty-two congressmen and four senators through fundraising events. Her biggest project was analyzing raw cane sugar imports using maritime shipping records, illustrating trends between growing seasons and USDA import quota announcements.
Dane Braun
North Dakota State University · Agribusiness & Applied Economics
During his 8 weeks in Washington, D.C., Dane met thirteen congressional representatives and several staff members during fundraising events. He sat in on Sugar Industry Biotech Council conference calls, American Sugar Alliance meetings, Farm Foundation forums, and House Agriculture Committee hearings. His biggest project was producing economic graphs for the American Sugar Alliance dealing with U.S. and Mexico sugar industries.
Lisa Widner
North Dakota State University · Music Education & Communications
Lisa spent seven unforgettable weeks in Washington, D.C. She attended Sugar Industry BioTech Council meetings, American Sugar Alliance meetings, and many fundraisers for members of Congress. She assisted in preparing a presentation to Monsanto about the 2010 tech fee and completed two major projects: “Sugar User Businesses by Congressional District” and a sugar price survey for the American Sugar Alliance.
Karen Lewis
Western Michigan University · Mathematics & Economics
Having lived on a sugarbeet farm her entire life, Karen experienced the many different aspects of the association while in Washington. She observed the 2007 Farm Bill proceedings, accompanied lobbyists on Hill visits, and attended the ASGA Board of Directors Meeting. Her projects included research for the Biotech Committee and compiling over 300 dossiers for lobbying appointments.
Kelly Cleavinger
Midwestern State University · Marketing · Hereford, TX
The granddaughter of Bill Cleavinger, past President of ASGA (1988–1990), for whom the internship is named. Kelly attended hearings of the Ways and Means Committee on the U.S.–Peru Free Trade Agreement and tracked the U.S.–Oman FTA debate. She attended a sugar industry meeting of 30 CEOs and grower leaders, and her projects included updating the industry’s international trade briefing book and a food price survey.
Tina Mauch
University of North Dakota · Marketing
The first Cleavinger Intern, Tina experienced the many different aspects of the association, national/international policies, and politics. Her learning experiences included attending the Senate Finance Committee “Mock Markup” on CAFTA, U.S. International Trade Commission hearings, and Senate Sweetener Caucus meetings. Her projects included the International Trade Briefing Book for the U.S. Sugar Industry and the ASGA 2005 Directory.
Interested in becoming part of this legacy? Apply for the internship or learn more about the program.