Program History

In the spring of 1990, Dr. Ron Knutson, an agricultural economics professor and director of the Agriculture and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University was contacted by Congressman Greg Laughlin. Rep. Laughlin wanted an intern with agricultural and natural resource knowledge that could help his office with these issues. Thus, the Agricultural and Natural Resource Policy Congressional Internship Program was established.

Since that time, the program has grown to include numerous congressional offices, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture and offices on the state level during legislative years. More than 325 students from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have served a semester-long internship as interns for Texas congressional members and committees in Washington, D.C. working on agriculture and natural resource issues.

Program Profile

Intern Selection: Students complete a rigorous application process before being selected as interns. The process includes:

• An essay application and a professional resume
• An initial screening interview with a panel of Texas A&M faculty
• Two 15 minute panel interviews with congressional staff, constituents, commodity groups and faculty

Training: Texas A&M faculty and staff help prepare Agricultural and Natural Resources interns to work on Capitol Hill. A series of informal meetings and informational sessions led by the program coordinator culminate in an intensive pre-internship training on living and working in a legislative environment. The mini-course is taught by A&M faculty, congressional staffers and former interns.

Salary and Scholarship: Interns become a vital part of the congressional office and are recognized for their contribution with a minimum salary of $500 per month. In addition, each intern receives a program scholarship of $2,500 for a full semester and $2,000 during the summer to help offset additional expenses.

Academics: Interns receive from 1 to 6 hours of academic credit for their internship. Students complete papers, portfolios and special projects detailing skills developed and analyzing their internship as a learning experience.

Agricultural and Natural Resources Focus: Although interns work on a variety of issues, all of our students have a strong background and interest in agriculture and natural resources. This specialized focus makes the interns valuable resources for their offices.

Former Interns: The majority of program interns continue their education with advanced degrees in a broad array of subjects including law and medical school. Many return to Capitol Hill or work in state government. Former interns pinpoint this experience as a catalyst for their success. "My Washington experience was invaluable...it helped me get where I am today." Julian Gomez, Briefing Attorney and Law Clerk for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Alumni newsletters and our website help us stay in touch with our interns as they move into the professional world.

Donors and Funding: All intern scholarships are raised privately through the generosity of private donors. Texas Farm Bureau, Plains Cotton Growers, Texas Grain & Feed Association, the Texas Poultry Federation, Blue Bell Creameries and many others make this dream a reality for students.