Getting to Know Our Spring Intern

Written by: Victoria Broehm   |   January 17, 2023

Last week, recent college graduate Marisa Crowhurst joined the American Feed Industry Association’s communications team as our spring intern. When I interviewed her for this role, she stood out to me as a go-getter, having worked her way through college as a dog (and cat!) groomer to earn her bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and communication, with a specialization in communication and leadership development. She has experience in multimedia content development and is already bringing fresh ideas to our communications projects. Learn more about her in the Q&A below and meet her in person at the upcoming AFIA Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Crowhurst: I am originally from Deltona, Fa., but currently live in Ocala, Fla. I have two older brothers and a twin sister, and am an American Kennel Club (AKC) preservation breeder of standard smooth dachshunds. I recently graduated cum laude from the University of Florida’s (UF) College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. I’ve previously worked as a communication intern for UF’s Orange & New AEC Creative Lab and as a professional groomer.

Q: What drew you to pursuing a career in agricultural communications?

Crowhurst: I did not grow up with an agricultural background, however, I have grown to fall in love with the field. Since middle school where I started in the National FFA Organization and 4-H, all the way to going to the agricultural college at UF, my passion has only grown. I decided along the way to help be the voice for farmers, which is what led to my path of agricultural communications. Through my courses at UF, I grew to love the external and internal portions of communication and knew that if I could become an efficient agricultural and natural resource communicator, I can contribute back to this field that I love.

Q: How do you think your leadership program at the University of Florida has shaped how you view work?

Crowhurst: I believe that the leadership program at the University of Florida has taught me about who I am and what type of leader I can be in the workplace and other areas of my life. By learning my personality type through Myers-Briggs, Clifton Strengths, etc., I know how to work, study and lead more efficiently.

Q: What is one project you worked on in college that you are particularly proud of?

Crowhurst: In my Communication Practices in Agricultural and Life Sciences course, I wrote, designed and published an article for our department’s magazine about the 30th anniversary of The Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources. To be able to create a project that was applied in real-life and distributed to the entire department was a project I am proud of and one that I like to look back on.

Q: What do you know about the animal food industry?

Crowhurst: The animal food industry is a massive industry in America and generates great economic value in the supply chain. The industry is ever-growing with thousands of facilities producing feed and pet food, and vital to all of us who depend on it to supply food for our livestock and pets.

Q: What are you hoping to get out of your AFIA internship?

Crowhurst: I am hoping to gain knowledge of this industry and its policies while obtaining real-life experience in the communications field and am excited to apply the skills I learned in college.  I also hope to create meaningful, long-lasting relationships within this organization and its members, and become a more efficient and effective agricultural communicator.

Q: As a recent college graduate, what do you plan to do after your internship ends?  

Crowhurst: After this internship I will be looking for work and my goals are to go back to school to receive a higher education. I am planning on applying back to my alma mater at the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to pursue a master’s degree in agricultural education and communication with a concentration in agricultural communication.  

Q: What do you do outside of work?

Crowhurst: Outside of work, my passion is showing my dogs at AKC conformation events, where my dog Ginny just placed sixteenth in the country at the end of last year, and participating in barn hunt trials. I also enjoy spending time with my cattle, spending time out on the water fishing or just enjoying the Florida weather, and spending time with my family and friends.

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Please join me in welcoming Marisa!