America’s Cultivation Corridor Announces 2022 Iowa State Innovation Interns

DES MOINES, IOWA – America’s Cultivation Corridor announced today the launch of its Next Gen Innovation Impact Study program in partnership with Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. Through the semester-long program, the inaugural class of Innovation Interns will learn from Iowa’s agriculture and research leaders about innovative technologies, programs, research and practices that have the potential to significantly elevate agricultural sustainability and food system resilience in our state and around the world.

“We’re excited to launch this program to provide Iowa State students the opportunity to connect with and learn from leaders in Iowa agriculture, renewable fuels, food systems and more,” said Billi Hunt, executive director of America’s Cultivation Corridor. “Even more importantly, we’re looking forward to the students’ fresh perspectives and insights on agricultural sustainability and ideas to share their innovative ideas with the industry and consumers.”

Eight students will participate in the internship program during the Fall 2022 semester with a full schedule of learning opportunities including panel discussions, facility tours, networking events and mentoring. The interns include:

• Ashley Althaus, junior majoring in Agricultural Systems and Technology with minor in Agronomy, from Sublette, Ill.
• Spencer Collins, senior majoring in Agriculture Studies with minors in Agronomy and Entrepreneurship, from Adel, Iowa.
• Chloe Engelbrecht, junior majoring in Agricultural Business and Economics, from Davenport, Iowa.
• Emma Hamilton, senior majoring in Agricultural Business and Entrepreneurial Studies, from Broomfield, Colo.
• Adam Knoblock, junior majoring in Agricultural Business, from Rock Rapids, Iowa.
• Emma Sinclair, senior majoring in Agricultural Business, from Williamsburg, Iowa.
• Arilyn Tegtmeier-Oatman, junior majoring in Global Resource Systems with minors in Food and Society, French and Teaching English as a Second Language, from Lancaster, Penn.
• Cooper Warner, junior majoring in Agricultural Business with a minor in Agricultural Education, from Onawa, Iowa.

The Next Gen Innovation Impact Study launched on August 25 with an event featuring Dr. Daniel Robison, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University; Cory Reed, President, Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division, Production & Precision Agriculture, Americas and Australia for Deere and Company, and Chairman of Board of Directors for America’s Cultivation Corridor; and Julie Kenney, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

“Iowa’s farmers and food and ag businesses are leading the way in developing new solutions to make agriculture and food production more sustainable and efficient than ever before,” said Kevin Kimle, Rastetter Chair of Agricultural Entrepreneurship at Iowa State and Director of the Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences program.  “The Next Gen Innovation Impact Study program will introduce students to some of the most exciting and innovative technologies and practices that will allow farmers, companies and individuals to make even more progress in achieving their sustainability goals.”

Investors and partners of America’s Cultivation Corridor are working together to accelerate the development of new technologies, strengthen Iowa’s ag bioscience workforce, and attract economic development, all focused on meeting the challenge of feeding a growing world population in a sustainable way.

Investors in America’s Cultivation Corridor include Ames Economic Development Corporation, Corteva Agriscience, Deere & Company, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Hy-Vee, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Iowa Pork Producers, Iowa State University, ISG, Kemin Industries, Kent Corporation, MidAmerican Energy, REG, Scoular, and Sukup Manufacturing, Co.

More information is available at CultivationCorridor.org, or by following on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

About America’s Cultivation Corridor
Focused on further developing and marketing the world-renowned agricultural and bioscience economy in Iowa, America’s Cultivation Corridor is building on a rich history of innovation to accelerate value-added agriculture business development by attracting companies, talent and capital from across the globe to the state. Representing a diverse public-private coalition of stakeholders including Iowa State University, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Ames Chamber of Commerce, nonprofits and private sector companies from across the region and state, the Cultivation Corridor is one of the nation’s foremost cluster-based economic development organizations. For more information, visit CultivationCorridor.org.