UNL Student Prepares for Summer Internship on Capitol Hill

May 11, 2015

Lincoln, Neb. — Maci Lienemann, a junior animal science major from Princeton, has accepted an internship with U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb.

Support and funding for Lienemann is coming from the Nebraska Farm Bureau through the Keith R. Olsen Ag Policy Internship Award and from the American Society of Animal Science through the Science Policy Summer Internship Program. Lienemann is one of four individuals selected nationwide to participate in the ASAS program. She will begin her internship May 26.         

 "My background and main interest is in livestock so this is a great opportunity for me to learn from a U.S. senator who is serving as the chairman of the Livestock, Marketing and Agriculture Security Subcommittee," she said.

Lienemann said she wants to learn more about policy, specifically regarding livestock biotechnologies. 

"I have a unique set of interests when it comes to livestock, science and policy, so I hope this internship will give me a glimpse of how I can combine those into a future career," she said. 

The internship will allow Lienemann to work with congressional staff and federal agencies on preparing research and legislative briefings. She will also interact with agricultural constituents.               

"I'm looking forward to meeting with groups such as Nebraska Cattlemen and the Nebraska Farm Bureau," she said.

The oldest of four children, Lienemann is part of a registered Angus operation. In addition to helping with the family business, she has her own herd of 20 registered Angus that she is in charge of managing and marketing. Lienemann would like to help improve or develop biotechnologies to help livestock producers be more efficient, profitable and sustainable.

The Keith R. Olsen Agricultural Policy Internship Award was established in 2011 by the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation to honor Olsen, who was Farm Bureau president from 2002-2011 and on the board of directors for nearly 20 years. The award provides up to $3,000 to a UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources junior or senior to work as an intern in a Nebraska congressional office, a congressional committee or approved agricultural organization.

ASAS fosters the discovery, sharing and application of scientific knowledge concerning the responsible use of animals to enhance human life and well-being. The purpose of the internship is to provide experience for undergraduates or graduate students in legislative, regulatory or administrative science policy activities in Washington, D.C., that affect animal science and animal agriculture to enhance their careers in academia or industry.