Intern Insights

It’s my second week on the job as the public relations intern, and I can’t believe how much I’ve already learned. The full-time staff give the interns a lot of responsibility and freedom to use our creativity, which in turn allows us to gain a lot of valuable experience. It makes me excited for what the rest of this school year and summer will bring!

My first task on the job was to complete the donor profile for the spring newsletter. The profile will feature the Norman and Mary Van Zante family, who have contributed to the Blue Ribbon Foundation in many ways, including being members of Jake’s Club and longtime patrons of the Corndog Kickoff. This was a fun first assignment as I had the pleasure of chatting with Mary and hearing about their family’s history with the Fair. Look for their profile in the spring newsletter!

Another project I have been working on is updating the contact list to promote the Iowan of the Day program, which will be my main job throughout the summer. I have also been looking into past winners and nominations. If you have nominated someone in the past and want to send more information on the individual, please email me at publicrelations@blueribbonfoundation.org. You can also nominate a new great Iowan by going to our website, http://blueribbonfoundation.org/iotd, and filling out a nomination form.

Lastly, the Corndog Kickoff will be here before we know it! If you haven’t heard of this event, it is a fun-filled night complete with live entertainment, all of your Fair food favorites, and a variety of unique auction packages to satisfy all State Fair enthusiasts. The event will be held on July 13 this year, so mark your calendars and get your tickets here: http://blueribbonfoundation.org/events/corndog-kickoff/tickets.

All of these projects will keep me very busy, and I am excited for the new experiences and seeing where this journey will lead me.