Internship Opportunities
The Blue Ribbon Foundation is currently promoting our internship opportunities for 2027. DISCLAIMER: This is not your typical internship.
Each intern will become a true member of the Blue Ribbon Foundation team, having direct responsibility for integral Foundation programs with the goal of making sure committed donors have a strong and lasting relationship with the Iowa State Fair. The Foundation would not be successful without the help of our summer interns. Since the internship program started in 1993, the positions have adjusted to fit the growing needs of the Foundation.
Each internship focuses on a core area but includes cross-functional opportunities in marketing and event planning.
- Public Relations Intern: Lead the promotion and coordination of the Iowan of the Day program, Woodcarvers’ Auction, and support other events through communication materials.
- Donor Relations Intern: Assist with donor engagement, special event planning, corporate communication, and donor correspondence.
- Sponsor Relations Intern: Support sponsorship development through marketing, communications, event coordination, and sponsor management.
An important aspect to the Foundation’s internship is that each student is able to utilize their existing skills when completing a project. Interns work independently and can take ownership of a specific task. At the same time, we challenge our interns to expand their skills by completing projects they might not have a previous knowledge of. (As a staff, we do our best to prepare students for the real-world working environment.)
I’ve stayed in touch with a few previous interns and I did a little digging to see where other Foundation interns are currently working:
Principal Financial Group, Every Step, Iowa 4-H Foundation, Kanters Animal Health, Iowa Select Farms, Eagle View Hospitality, Caesars Entertainment, Iowa Department of Agriculture, The Well Resource Center, DMACC, Hy-Vee, Lessing-Flynn, Drake University, Cargill, Real Estate, PepsiCo, WesleyLife Community, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Freeman, PDM Precast, Windsor Valley Dairy, Amazon, Jeid Studio, Two Rivers Marketing, Governor of Iowa’s Office, Unity Point Health, Ameriprise Financial Services…the list goes on and on. (There are also 3 current Blue Ribbon Foundation employees that were once interns!)
After graduation, some interns completed graduate school, moved across the country or stayed in Iowa to start their career. There are several previous interns that now volunteer with the Foundation or have other connections to the Iowa State Fair – sponsors, exhibitors or just avid Fairgoers!
If you know of a college student looking for an internship, encourage them to apply. (Applications will be accepted until November 30.)
2027 Blue Ribbon Foundation Internship Details
