Glenda Mireles, Summer 2023 Mchenry County Farm Bureau
The day has come for me to wrap up my summer internship at the McHenry County Farm Bureau. I’d be lying to you if I told you that this isn’t one of the days that I have been dreading since the first day I walked into the office. I knew what I wanted to learn and experience when applying to this internship, safe to say I got that and more!
From attending my first conference in Bloomington, to assisting with the Summer Ag Institute, to even running our food stand at the McHenry County Fair, I have learned from it all. Some of my favorite memories throughout the summer consisted of attending multiple Board meetings and just admiring the friendship that everyone in the room carried as they found ways to better the agriculture industry. Another moment this summer that I will never forget was traveling around Lake and McHenry County with local teachers and visiting agricultural stops. The teachers’ excitement to learn about our local agriculture and finding new ways to implement agriculture in their classrooms was such an impactful moment. Lastly, one of the most rewarding experiences this summer was helping Lydia plan out the Marengo FFA booth at the county fair this year.
This internship not only allowed me to experience all these opportunities, but it pushed me to meet new people and learn from our locals in the agriculture industry. As I leave this internship, I will treasure the memories I have created, the words of wisdom I have received, and most importantly, the valuable friendships I have built. I would like to thank all of the wonderful committees that let me listen into their meetings, all the farms that I visited, but most importantly the community as a whole for allowing me to have this opportunity and learn from every interaction I have had this summer. Lastly, I would like to thank three people who I looked up to all summer, Katie Vanderstappen, Sue Henning, and of course the one and only Dan Volkers. Thank you for helping me make this summer one of a kind and for guiding me as well as always being there whenever I needed your help.