June 1, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Crystal Albers, American Angus Association assistant director of communications, at 816-383-5100 or calbers@angus.org; or
Shauna Hermel, Angus Productions Inc. editor, at 816-383-5100 or shermel@angusjournal.com
Angus Announces Summer Interns
The American Angus Association and Angus Productions
Inc. welcome several new faces this summer.
The American Angus Association welcomes two interns to its Saint Joseph, Mo., headquarters this summer.
Carrie Gilliam, Washington, Kan., is the 2011 public relations and communications intern. She will assist the department by writing press releases and video scripts, editing and designing Angus literature, publicizing Angus events, taking photos and assisting with social media. Gilliam will also attend the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Harrisburg, Pa.
“This summer will allow me to develop my communication skills while helping an industry I grew up in,” Gilliam said.
“Carrie is sure to be a valuable asset this summer as we continue to expand our communications and PR efforts with members, commercial cattlemen and others in the beef industry,” says Eric Grant, American Angus Association director of communications and public relations. “She has a strong work ethic and knowledge of the cattle business that complements our print, web, television and social media presence. We look forward to having her on board this summer.”
Gilliam is a family member of the G&G Angus Cattle operation and is a recent graduate from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and journalism. While on campus she served as the College of Agriculture Student Council President, a member of the horse judging team, assistant editor for the Agriculturalist magazine and an editor for the Kansas State Collegian.
After completing the internship Gilliam hopes to stay active in the agriculture industry through a livestock publication or entity.
The American Angus Association announces Emily Moore, Jerseyville, Ill., as its junior activities summer intern. She will assist with the planning and execution of National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) shows and events, including the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) and the Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) Conference.
“The internship will be a good learning experience,” Moore said. “I am excited to meet new people and develop my communication skills.”
Moore is a third-generation Shorthorn breeder and her family has raised cattle for over 60 years. She attends the University of Illinois and will receive her bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications next year. She serves as the National Junior Shorthorn Association secretary and is on the University of Illinois Livestock judging team.
“Emily is going to be a great asset to the junior activities department this summer,” said Robin Ruff, director of junior activities. “She has a strong background in the beef industry and a passion for livestock.”
In the future Moore hopes to own a full-service livestock advertising agency.
Angus Productions Inc. (API),
Saint Joseph, Mo., is pleased to announce the addition of two interns to its
staff this summer.
Katie Gazda, Athens, Ga., will intern with the Editorial Department. During the summer
she will be responsible for contributing to the Angus Journal, the Angus Beef Bulletin, the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA and the Angus e-List. She will also attend a variety
of industry events and conferences.
“I am really looking forward to
applying the skills I’ve acquired from school to the real world,”
Gazda says. “I’m also looking forward to learning from actual real-world
situations.”
In the fall, Gazda will be a
senior at the University of Georgia (UGA) where she is
pursuing a degree in agricultural communication. On campus, Gazda serves as a
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences ambassador, and she is
active in the UGA Block and Bridle Club and UGA Panhellenic.
She is a past intern of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Cattle
Industry Annual Convention & NCBA Trade Show.
Her experience in the beef
industry includes raising and showing Angus cattle and working on her family’s
farm, Gazda Cattle Co., Athens. She has been involved in the
National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) and the Georgia Junior Angus
Association for 13 years and served as 2009 Miss American Angus. She is
the daughter of David and Carolyn Gazda.
Upon graduation, Gazda plans to
attend graduate school in public relations or journalism. After receiving a
master’s degree, she hopes to pursue a career in agriculture.
“The Angus industry has been
instrumental in making me the person I am today,” Gazda explains. “I am
confident that my summer with API will help to shape me into the professional I
hope to be in the future.”
Brandi Kapfer, Memphis, Mo., will intern with the Web Services
Department. In this capacity, Kapfer will assist in
updating web pages, posting sale books online and finding ways to improve
current breeder sites. She will also be an asset in the development of new
projects throughout the summer.
Kapfer is a 2011 graduate of Northwest Missouri State
University (NWMSU) where she received a bachelor’s degree in interactive
digital media, an interdisciplinary degree with an integrated curriculum from
the departments of computer science, mass communications and fine arts. On
campus, she was active in DigEM, Knacktive
and the Sigma Society.
Kapfer plans to pursue a career in web design and development
in the future. She is the daughter of Linda Brown and Stephen Kapfer.
“I hope to use this internship
to gain experience in web development,” says Kapfer.
“It’s what I want to do, and I enjoy doing it.”
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The American Angus Association is the nation’s
largest beef organization, serving nearly 30,000 members across the United
States and Canada. It provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and
others who rely on the power of Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef
industry and quality beef for consumers.
For more information about Angus cattle and the
American Angus Association’s programs and services, visit www.angus.org.
Angus Productions Inc. (API) is a for-profit subsidiary of the American
Angus Association that coordinates a variety of publication and communication
services to benefit the American Angus Association, Angus breeders and their
customers. Most notably, API is responsible for the publication of the Angus Journal and the Angus Beef Bulletin. Additionally, API
provides web services, special services and real-time coverage of Angus and
beef industry events.
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