Schaneman Completes Council Internship, Reflects On Experience

For the past year, Payton Schaneman has served as an intern in the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) global programs department in Washington, D.C. Schaneman completed his Nebraska Corn Board-sponsored internship on Friday, May 6.

During his time with the Council, Schaneman assisted with the organization with many programs and trade teams, including the Mexican yellow corn team and the Mexican white corn team.

“Payton had a unique internship experience with the Council over the past 12 months. Typically, our interns would be involved in the implementation of in-person programming, with a focus on trade teams. Instead, Payton was actively involved in the Council’s pivot to virtual programs, helping us navigate the technologies that have allowed us to reach a larger audience in the virtual world and communicate more effectively with our international staff,” said Emily Byron, USGC director of global programs. “In turn, this pivot provided Payton the opportunity to take part in many of our virtual programs and better understand our global strategy.”

While many moments from his internship stood out, Schaneman especially enjoyed his visit to former Council Chairman Chip Councell’s farm in Maryland.

“It was amazing learning about Chip Councell’s Maryland farm and how he has felt impacted by the work of the Council,” Schaneman said.

Other moments that stood out for Schaneman include his time attending the Virginia Farm Show and his involvement with the Heineken barley virtual meeting. He said he most appreciated learning more about the Council and the work it does around the world.

“My favorite part about spending the year with the Council was learning the ins-and-outs of how the organization creates relationships with U.S. farmers and producers, exporters and other countries,” Schaneman said. “Being able to see how these conversations turn into meetings, which turn into farmers finding new avenues to sell their grain, excites me for the future of agriculture and how it affects our farmers.”

Following the completion of his internship, Schaneman returned home to Nebraska where he plans to remain in the agriculture industry by pursuing a career in the state.

“I am very grateful for my U.S. Grains Council experience, as I learned many invaluable lessons I will take with me into my next chapter,” Schaneman said. “I especially appreciate my time in the global programs department, where I learned about the ways USGC works to facilitate trade in other countries. Thank you to everyone who helped me grow in my understanding of the important work of American producers, exporters and buyers in the grains industry.”

Thank you, Payton, for your Council contributions over the past year!