Meet our interns for our summer 2021 program in Washington, D.C.!
Clayton Elbel
The Fertilizer Institute
Clayton Elbel is a sophomore Agricultural Economics major at Texas A&M University from Spring Branch, Texas. Clayton has balanced his academic performance with extracurricular activities during his time at Texas A&M University. Clayton was a member of the Agricultural Economics Departmental Honors Program, taking advanced courses within the department and engaging in undergraduate research. Clayton’s Student Government Association involvement range from serving as a student senator in the Texas A&M Student Senate, volunteering with the 12th Can Food Pantry, to serving on the Texas A&M Legislative Relations Commission. Throughout this past year, Clayton has served as a Texas FFA State Vice President for the Texas FFA Association, an organization with over 138,000 members. Clayton is interested in agricultural policy and its relationship with international trade and the United States’ global leadership. With an internship with the Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Program, Clayton hopes to have a hands-on experience with the policies that affect the globalized food and fiber system.
Steven Graham
Environmental Protection Agency
Steven is from Fort Worth, Texas, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Forensic and Investigative Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. He became interested in the investigative sciences from a young age through TV shows such as forensic files. During his time at Texas A&M, Steven has been involved in forensic entomology research. The agriculture industry benefits from this research by gaining an improved understanding of flystrike prevention. Steven has also served as a supplemental instruction leader and undergraduate teaching fellow for Physics 202. Following graduation, Steven plans to pursue graduate studies in forensically relevant chemistry or biochemistry with the goal of becoming an expert witness. He hopes that his experience through ANRP enables him to understand how national legislation impacts scientific fields at large. Steven hopes to use these skills in collaboration with other scientists to pursue national legislation surrounding science, particularly the regulation of forensic sciences.
Mamie Hertel
National Association of Wheat Growers
Mamie Hertel is a sophomore Agricultural Communications and Journalism major from Moore, Montana. While she is a first-generation Aggie, Mamie grew up as the fifth generation of agriculturalists on her family’s small farm and ranch. Being surrounded by production agriculture for most of her life has made her passionate about agriculture advocacy and impacting the industry. This passion led her to transfer from Montana State University to Texas A&M University after conducting a year of service at the National FFA Organization as one of six officers representing 750,00 students across the country. Mamie is interested in pursuing a law degree after completing her undergraduate degree and hopes to use that degree to enact positive change in the agricultural industry. Outside of her studies, Mamie was recently selected as the operations executive vice president by the student body president and is a student technician at Texas 4-H. As an intern this summer, Mamie is excited to expand her knowledge about agricultural policy development and implementation.
Meghan McGowan
Office of Congressman August Pfluger -and-
Office of Congressman Pete Sessions
Meghan McGowan is a Master of Agribusiness candidate at Texas A&M University, a Merit Fellow, and a Graduate Assistant for the Department of Agricultural Economics at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In 2014 she received her Bachelor of Science in Law and minor in Civil and Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Post her commission, she had the pleasure of serving her country in various positions and locations around the world. Meghan was a leader and a logistician in charge of moving all classes of supplies while building various commodities, ranging from teams to supply points in the middle east. She has extensive experience working with and for personnel in various fields, ranks, positions, and organizations. Meghan separated from the United States Army as a Captain in December 2019. She decided to follow her dream to aid farmers and ranchers by analyzing the market and improving and developing policies that may challenge their successes in an inherently difficult business. Her time at Texas A&M University has increased her understanding of current agricultural policy and fostered her desire to advance in a policy career. As a Colorado native and Army logistician, she was surrounded by agriculture her entire life and is excited to continue to learn and devote her efforts to the industry. Meghan will graduate in December of 2021 and plans to pursue a career in agricultural policy. She is exceedingly thrilled, grateful, and honored to start her new journey at the offices of Congressman August Pfluger and Congressman Pete Sessions.
Piper Merritt
House Committee on Agriculture (minority office)
Piper Merritt is a senior Agricultural Leadership major with a minor in Agricultural Economics from Owasso, Oklahoma. Before transferring to Texas A&M University in the fall of 2019, Piper served as a National FFA Officer, traveling over 100,000 miles in the US and Japan. Since high school, Piper has continually reaffirmed her passion for agricultural policy and international affairs. Piper has advocated for youth in agriculture from the US Embassy in Tokyo to the White House. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, Piper plans to study International Affairs and Policy in a master’s program. Piper currently serves as an undergraduate research assistant at the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M and is a devoted member of the Traditions Council in student government. When she’s not working or studying, Piper loves plant shopping, adventuring, and being with family and friends.
Taitelyn Morris
Office of Congressman Filemon Vela
As a first-generation college student, Taitelyn Morris is a recent graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics with a concentration in Policy and Economic Analysis and a double minor in Bioenvironmental Sciences and Communication. Born and raised in Waco, Texas, Taitelyn was introduced to agriculture through her high school’s FFA program. This experience led her to attend Texas A&M, where she has served as a Bryan High Young Life Leader, Fish Camp Counselor and a member of various other student organizations. She currently works as a tutor at Bryan High School in the U.S. History Department. Through her coursework, she found herself drawn to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and will be continuing her education at Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service with the hopes of one day working directly on SNAP.
Ryan Rakowitz
Office of Congressman Kevin Brady
Ryan Rakowitz is a recent Texas A&M graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Agronomy. He is from the small town of Floresville, Texas, where he grew up on a small cattle ranch. While growing up there, Ryan developed a passion for agriculture that quickly grew as he became more involved in FFA. Ryan participated in FFA at the local, state, and national levels. He showed livestock, spoke at events, and engaged in agricultural mechanics. These experiences inspired Ryan to help those in agriculture. While at Texas A&M, Ryan has been involved in multiple organizations. Since his freshman year, he has been in the Texas A&M Agronomy Society and was in charge of the 2019 Texas A&M corn maze. He has also been a part of the Aggie Men’s Club which focuses on Christian fellowship and leadership. He is currently the academic chair for the Aggie Men’s Club and regularly checks with all 100 members for student grade status and assists members when needed. While in school, Ryan has worked with the Cropping Systems Department for the Soil and Crop Science Department as a research assistant and currently works at the Rife Law Firm as a clerk. In the fall, he plans to attend law school and one day work in policy, hoping to help generations of people in agriculture. Ryan is excited to see how policy is developed and its impact on others while in Washington, D.C.
Payton Ramsey
Office of Congressman Michael Cloud
-and-
Office of Congressman Louie Gohmert
Payton Ramsey is a senior at Texas A&M University, where she is majoring in Animal Science with a minor in Agricultural Communications and Journalism. Payton grew up on a cow/calf operation in Garrison, TX, and since then, her love and passion for agriculture and the beef cattle industry has only grown. While at Texas A&M, Payton has been involved in multiple student organizations, including COALS Council, ANSC Ambassadors, and Freshman Leadership Experience. Her leadership roles have included serving as a peer mentor for the Hullabaloo U First-Year Experience Program and as the Assistant Director for Future Agriculture and Life Science Leaders. Payton is also passionate about the Texas youth livestock industry and spends much of her time volunteering at livestock shows and operating her show cattle company and photography business. Ultimately, she hopes to pursue a career tackling agricultural issues that are affecting producers in the U.S. and globally, whether through policy, education, or advocacy. Payton is excited for the opportunity to serve as an ANRP intern, and hopes the experience will sharpen her career goals and build upon her leadership and professional skills.
Tori Teegarden
Office of Congressman Pete Sessions
Tori Teegarden is pursuing her Master of Science in Animal Science with concentrations in Food Safety and International Affairs through the Bush School. She graduated in Spring 2020 with her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Colorado State University. Originally from Evergreen, CO and then moving to Villa Rica, GA has allowed her to gain a wide perspective of the agriculture industry. She interned for JBS corporate in 2019 and in 2020 interned in a beef plant in Nebraska. Tori will be interning in with Congressman Pete Sessions where she is excited to see the legislative process and how the government impacts the industry she is so passionate about. She hopes this experience allows her to begin a career in the Capitol and allows her to make an impact in the agricultural industry.
