Meet Molly!

Hi everyone!

It’s time to introduce myself, Molly Schmitt, as the donor relations intern for the summer. This is my first week in the office and I already feel at home. The fairgrounds have been bustling all week as everyone prepared for the World Pork Expo, which began yesterday and runs until Friday. Our office does not work a lot on this event, but we did take some time to go look around and see what the National Pork Board and Iowa Pork Producers have put together to attract thousands of people from all over the world. We even had free ribs and pork burgers yesterday for lunch, so naturally we can’t complain!

 I have a variety of duties as the donor relations intern, but I do promote our donor programs, which are vast and definitely worth checking out. I have spent the past few days sorting all kinds of concert tickets for Peter, our executive director. Seriously, I have never used so many paperclips and rubber bands in my life! I am also creating the media kit for the Corndog Kickoff, so I have started some design work and press releases to write for that packet. During the Fair, I will be in charge of a lot of events that take place in our hospitality tent like Legislative Day. I’m hoping to start working on invites and planning for Legislative Day yet this week.  

So, a little background on yours truly, I am going to be a junior at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa this fall (and yes, that is where Mumford and Sons will be having their Gentleman of the Road Tour next weekend). I am a public relations/organizational and multimedia double major with a leadership minor and am extremely active on campus. I grew up on my parents’ (Steve and Connie Schmitt) dairy farm located near Hawkeye, IA, which is way up in the northeast corner of our lovely state.  I grew up with my two older sisters, Emily and Amy, and my older brother, Lucas. We milk about 280 grade Holstein cattle and raise all of our steers for market on our family farm. We also crop farm about 900 acres in alfalfa, rye and corn.

I grew up showing dairy, beef, horses, dogs, sheep, poultry and non-livestock at the Fayette County Fair in West Union, IA through 4-H and FFA. I also did presentations, volunteered, competed in dairy judging contests and exhibited non-livestock at the Iowa State Fair. I am growing more and more excited every day for the 2015 Iowa State Fair, and cannot wait to gain a new perspective on our great Fair!

I guess that’s about it for now, as I have to get going on my exciting (but massive) to do list. Have a great day and I’ll be sure to check in again next week!

-Molly

Just a few of the tickets I have sorted through this past week. 

Here are my siblings and I (from left to right: Amy, Molly (me), Emily, Lucas). 

Showing one of my registered Holstein heifers at the Fayette County Fair. 

In 2013, I brought a carload of friends to the state fair for a day because they had never been here. I know, how crazy is that?! Needless to say, they loved it and continue to visit. My cousin, Belle, is on the left and is the current American Honey Queen, so she will also be at the Fair this year giving presentations!