Washington, D.C.

Meet our Fall 2023 ANRP intern cohort!

 

Nour Bichay Global Cold Chain Alliance Nour Bichay is a recent Food Science and Technology graduate with a Business minor from Texas A&M University. She is incredibly passionate about international food security and has sought internships and educational experiences to help her accomplish that end. This fall, she will be interning with the Global Cold Chain Alliance. After her internship, she hopes to continue her education to study community development of human resilience and security with an emphasis in agriculture.

Alexandria Cozzitorto House Republican Conference Alexandria Cozzitorto, originally from Kansas, graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and a minor in Agricultural Communications and Journalism in May 2023. As a third-generation Angus breeder and fourth-generation cattlewoman, agriculture has been at the heart of Alexandria’s academic and extracurricular goals for as long as she can remember. However, growing up in rural America while attending high school in a suburb of Kansas City opened her eyes to the harsh reality of what much of the population believes about agriculture. At the young age of nine years old, she made it her mission to advocate for the American farmer and rancher in everything she did. Alexandria was an active member of the Kansas Junior Angus Association and the National Junior Angus Association for 12 years. Throughout those years, she served in many leadership positions and participated in educational events and activities that led her to call Texas A&M University home. During her time as a student, she was heavily involved in C.O.A.L.S. Council, where she served as a Co-Chair and Vice President of the Public Relations Committee. In her roles, she and the leadership team served as a liaison between the Dean and Faculty of the College and the 8,000+ students. In addition to her leadership roles while on C.O.A.L.S. Council, she founded and led the first-ever AGLS Giving Day that raised over $30,000 for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Additionally, she was a member of the 2020 Wool Judging Team and served as Co-Chair for the Texas A&M Saddle & Sirloin Futurity Show through the Animal Science Department. These opportunities allowed her to give back to the College, and her department, while also expanding her network and shaping her into the person she is today. Alexandria has accepted a position with the House Republican Conference in Washington, D.C., this fall. She is looking forward to networking and collaborating with industry professionals to further develop her knowledge of agriculture policy while contributing to the future of the agriculture industry through this high-impact experience.

Lauren Decker The Fertilizer Institute Lauren Decker is a senior majoring in Horticultural Sciences with minors in Environmental Soil Science and Agronomy. She hails from Houston and is set to graduate in the spring of 2024. Growing up deeply concerned about climate change and natural resource conservation, Lauren has amassed a diverse range of experiences during her undergraduate career. Her academic pursuits have seen her delve into semi-independent research on genetic transformation and editing methods in plants, coupled with a dedicated two-year commitment to the potato breeding program at Texas A&M University. Last summer, Lauren participated in the prestigious Cornell Summer Scholars Research Program, where she explored climate-specific rootstocks as a potential solution for growers. Beyond her academic endeavors, Lauren has actively engaged with student organizations dedicated to environmental and agricultural causes, including Aggie Replant, the Horticulture Club, and the Agronomy Society. In the Agronomy Society, she holds the role of Special Event Planner, orchestrating an annual corn maze event that educates the public on farming practices and introduces these crucial topics to the next generation. Impressively, this initiative has drawn more than 6,000 attendees from the Bryan/College Station area in the last two years. She aspires to embark on a career dedicated to supporting impactful public policies in the realms of conservation, sustainability, energy, and public health. Her internship at The Fertilizer Institute presents a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the art of lobbying, cultivating strategic relationships, and advocating for environmental causes, all while actively supporting American businesses. Lauren’s mission is to be a driving force behind positive change, utilizing her skills and dedication to shape policies that benefit both society and the environment.

Kathryn Dreyer Office of Congressman Brian Babin Kate Dreyer graduated from Texas A&M University in May 2023 with degrees in Agricultural Communications and Journalism and Agricultural Economics. She grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, but in recent years has relocated to Fort Worth. Kate’s family has an agricultural background, which pushed her to be actively involved in FFA throughout middle and high school. She raised market sheep and poultry and participated in countless LDEs and CDEs. During her undergraduate program, Kate was a member of and served as the secretary of the Alpha Pi chapter of Sigma Alpha, a professional sorority for women pursuing careers in agriculture. She was also a member of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. Additionally, she had the opportunity to write for AgriLeader Magazine, the official magazine of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas FFA, and develop a comprehensive public relations campaign. Kate has been interested in agricultural policy for many years and is looking forward to experiencing a potential future career through the Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program. While Kate is passionate about the industry as a whole, she is specifically interested in the communication aspect of policymaking. Kate has accepted a position with the Office of Congressman Brian Babin in Washington, D.C., this fall, where she hopes to further develop her skill set and experience policymaking firsthand.

J Cooper Free Office of Congressman Pete Sessions J Cooper Free is a sophomore Agricultural Economics major, set to graduate in May 2025, at Texas A&M University. He is currently involved in a number of organizations on and off campus, including Aggie SUITS and Aggie REPS. He has always been interested in politics and one day hopes to run to be a public servant. He is excited to be a part of the ANRP program and looks forward to his time interning in Washington, D.C. J Cooper will be interning with the Office of Congressman Pete Sessions this fall.

John Hendrix House Agriculture Committee – Majority Staff John Hendrix is a fifth-year senior in the Department of Agricultural Economics from the small town of Bellville, Texas. As a first-generation Aggie, John was initially an engineering major, but eventually found his way to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He has developed interests in commodity prices, safety net stipulations, reserve capacity, and food assistance, among many other niche areas in the notoriously broad field of Agricultural Economics. The department has offered excellent opportunities to John over the past few years, as evidenced by his participation on a 5th Place National Quiz Bowl team this past July, multiple research projects, and the Society of Agricultural Economics. With some diverse experiences of anyone his age, John has experience as a landscaper, carpenter, electrician, mechanic, sawyer, arborist, ranch hand, fencer, parliamentary consultant, tutor, and maid. John has been an independent contractor for almost a decade and has operated his own construction and maintenance business for the last three years. Before earning a Terry Scholarship at the end of his senior year of high school, he was often working whenever not in school to save up enough money to attend college, and he credits this with his solid understanding of the blue-collar class, which includes America’s farmers and ranchers. Now, John is honored by the opportunity to play a role in key research projects for the House Committee on Agriculture this Fall.

Jayden Holt Office of Congressman Tony Gonzales Jayden Holt graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications and Journalism in May 2023. Jayden is from Westbrook, Texas, where she grew up exhibiting market goats. She was deeply involved in her local FFA chapter, serving on the officer team, and competing in various leadership and development events. Her involvement in these activities sparked her passion for agricultural advocacy. During her time at Texas A&M University, Jayden served as parliamentarian for the Collegiate FFA Alumni Association chapter and was an active member of Sigma Alpha, a professional sorority for women pursuing careers in agriculture. These experiences gave Jayden the opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills while being involved on campus. These organizations also introduced her to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program to further develop those skills and her interest in agricultural policy. Jayden’s interest in agricultural policy includes product labeling for beef raised in the United States. Jayden has accepted an intern position with the Office of Congressman Tony Gonzales for the fall of 2023, where she hopes to further develop communication skills and learn more about public policy.

Kerri Marbut The Fertilizer Institute Kerri Marbut, a native of Alvarado, Texas, graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics in August 2023. Growing up in a rural Texas town, Kerri’s passion for agriculture started young and grew as she became a member of the Texas FFA and exhibited heifers and market hogs. During her time at Texas A&M University, Kerri has served in the Student Government Association as a Student Senator, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Student Senate, a member of the Traditions Enrichment Committee, and a student representative on the Student Government Advisory Committee, where she was able to be the voice of the student body and help to improve student life. Kerri has also been involved in Fish Camp, where she has been able to welcome incoming freshman classes through an extended orientation program as a counselor and a chairperson. These experiences have allowed Kerri to hone her leadership skills while being actively involved in many corners of campus. Her passion for people and agriculture led her to the Agricultural & Natural Resources Policy Internship Program to further develop her skills and contribute to the agricultural industry. Kerri plans to pursue a career in agricultural policy and development, where she can advocate for positive change within the agricultural industry. Kerri’s interest in agricultural policy includes agricultural infrastructure, beef production, and foreign relations with agricultural development. Kerri will be interning with the Fertilizer Institute this fall.

Rachel Mendez National Association of Wheat Growers Rachel Mendez graduated from Texas A&M University in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics with a concentration in Finance and Real Estate and obtained a minor in Economics. She grew up on the Central Coast of California in a town called Nipomo, where she was actively involved in 4-H. Rachel began showing livestock, primarily sheep and goats, at the age of 5 and eventually started her sheep breeding program in 2015 with the help of her family. Her involvement and interest in agriculture continued when she decided to attend Texas A&M in 2020 to study and pursue a career in agriculture. During her time at Texas A&M, she was an active member of Sigma Alpha, a professional sorority for women pursuing careers in agriculture, and was a member of the Agriculture Economics Society. Rachel has accepted an internship with the National Association of Wheat Growers through the Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Program. She hopes to gain insight into the policy making process in order to better understand all aspects of the agricultural industry. This fall, Rachel is excited to represent Texas A&M University in Washington, D.C.

Abigail Tack National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Abigail Tack graduated from Texas A&M University in May of 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, Production, and Industry, with a minor in Business and a meat science certificate. Abby was born in Montana, but spent most her life growing up in Humble, Texas, just outside of Houston. While at Texas A&M, Abby discovered her passion for agriculture and meat science. She was a proud member of the 2022 Texas Aggie Meat Judging Team, which won five out of eight contests, including the National Championship. Abby served as an ambassador for both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the University Honors Program, where she was able to interact with prospective students about her valuable experiences. She also served as President of the Meat Science and Technology Association, a student organization focused on developing leaders and connecting them with leaders in the meat industry. Through the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, Abby completed an undergraduate research project and thesis on meat metabolomics and quality. These experiences have pushed her to strengthen her skills in problem solving, teamwork and time management. This fall, Abby is excited to experience and learn more first-hand about public policy and how she can utilize it to advocate for agriculture in her future career. Abby will be interning with the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in Washington, D.C.

Cole Youtz Office of Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks Cole graduated from Texas A&M University in August 2023 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. Growing up on his grandparent’s dairy farm Annville, Pennsylvania cultivated his passion for agriculture. In 4-H and FFA, Cole showed market hogs and sheep, and he competed in public speaking and livestock judging contests. After competing in two National Livestock Judging competitions, his high school team got invited to tour Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. Following junior college, he finished his education at Texas A&M and refocused his decision to pursue a career in agricultural policy. During his time at A&M Cole has enjoyed volunteering in the Big Event, Thanksgiving in the Brazos, and CROP Hunger Walk, and his favorite hobby is attending training classes with his Giant Schnauzer, Penny.