As social media influence began to emerge, IL Corn recognized a unique opportunity to empower young agricultural communicators with the tools and knowledge to advocate for agriculture in fresh, meaningful ways. This vision led to an unforgettable internship experience for Claire Benjamin, the current Director of Communications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Sciences . Benjamin interned with IL Corn from January to May 2011, which was the spring semester of her first year at the U. of I. As one of several IL Corn interns in 2011, she was encouraged to advocate for Illinois agriculture in whatever way suited her best. For her, the answer was simple: writing. She started a blog, Rural Route Review, to help people better understand agriculture, covering hot-button issues like GMOs, organic versus conventional farming, and more. “Oftentimes, communicators have something to say, but they need an audience. IL Corn gave me that platform. They gave me permission to seek out those audiences and share my own personal messages as an agriculturalist and fledgling writer,” Benjamin said. The experience became a turning point in her career. “When someone sees value in you as a communicator, that is really powerful,” she said. “I remember what it felt like to be believed in, and feeling like if someone trusts me now, then this is somewhere I can really build a career.” And she did. Benjamin has held communications roles at the U. of I. for over 12 years and has served as Director of Communications for the College of ACES since 2023. In her role, she helps fulfill the university’s land-grant mission by translating research and innovation into real-world impact for Illinois farmers and stakeholders. She works closely with a team of science writers, supports advocacy and advancement efforts, and collaborates with Dean Germán Bollero to demonstrate the continued relevance of the land-grant model—and how it’s evolving to continually serve the future of agriculture as well as families and communities across the state and beyond. Benjamin credits her IL Corn internship with giving her not only permission and a platform to communicate about agricultural issues, but also to engage meaningfully in the conversations that shape the industry. The connections she made during that time continue to influence her career today. She interned under Lindsay Croke whom she now collaborates with as a fellow agricultural communicator. “It is heartwarming to know how many people helped me get to where I am today, including Lindsay,” Benjamin said. “Agriculture excels at giving interns a chance,” she said. “Organizations like IL Corn prove through their internship programs that there’s room for everyone at the table and the more voices, the better.” Now, Benjamin is paying it forward, mentoring and guiding the next generation of communicators at the College of ACES. “How amazing that my own intern is the one interviewing me for this story,” she said. These days, she finds herself asking the same question that once guided her own journey: “What are the stories you want to tell?” Benjamin’s story is a full-circle reflection of IL Corn’s internship vision: investing in young communicators, entrusting them with a platform, and watching their impact on agriculture for years to come.