As part of my ADVRT 499A internship requirement at Iowa State University’s Greenlee School of Journalism, I completed a 400-hour communications internship with Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) in Ames. What began as a summer internship grew into a part-time role as Digital Media Assistant, allowing me to continue supporting their communications team while finishing school.
PFI is a nonprofit that equips farmers to build resilient farms and communities through farmer-led research, events, and outreach. My role gave me hands-on experience across social media, content creation, event production, design, and digital marketing.
Social Media & Digital Content
I managed PFI’s social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, creating content tailored for each audience. This included event promotions, educational posts, and community updates.
One highlight was helping transition PFI’s traditional in-person field days—a hallmark summer program—into fully virtual events during 2020. I supported livestream production on Facebook Live and Zoom, handling behind-the-scenes tech to ensure smooth execution.
Writing & Storytelling
I contributed original writing to PFI’s publications:
Magazine feature: Wrote “Restoring Soil and Community” (Autumn 2020 issue), profiling organic farmer Tom Wind’s collaboration with neighbors to restore soil health through livestock grazing. Read the article here or download the PDF below.
Blog post: Authored timely coverage on the August 2020 derecho, highlighting disaster relief and cost-share funding available to affected farmers. Read the article here.
These pieces combined journalistic storytelling with practical, actionable information for PFI’s farming community.
Design & Research Reports
I gained technical skills in Adobe InDesign while formatting farmer-led research reports for both print and web. For example, I designed the “One-Cut Lettuce Variety Trial” report, combining data tables, charts, and photography into a professional, reader-friendly layout. Read the research report here or download the PDF below.
Email Marketing
I assisted with The Practical Cover Cropper newsletter and coordinated Virtual Field Day update emails, using Constant Contact. My responsibilities included content layout, link tracking through Google Analytics, and ensuring mobile-friendly design. These newsletters kept members engaged and informed through a season of 60+ virtual events.
Professional Growth
This experience gave me a strong foundation in digital communications and nonprofit marketing. Beyond sharpening my writing and design skills, it taught me how to adapt messaging for diverse audiences, support large-scale event pivots, and use digital platforms to strengthen community connection.
Featured by Iowa State
My internship was also featured by the Greenlee School of Journalism at Iowa State University.
Madalyn Mueller 