A pan of scotcheroos does not usually change how a room of Washington, D.C., trade professionals see Nebraska. But when University of Nebraska–Lincoln student Jacob Behnk brought a batch into the DTB AgriTrade office, they were gone in two days. He hoped to follow it up with a Runza lunch for the team, once he worked out the logistics.
For Behnk, a senior Spanish and global studies major from Clearwater, Nebraska, the bars and fridge magnets he handed out earlier in the summer were not just friendly gestures. They were part of a role he took seriously throughout his time in Washington — acting as an ambassador for Nebraska.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to represent UNL and Nebraska in our nation’s capital,” Behnk said. “This internship is not just a chance for me to gain experience in the world of ag trade, but also a responsibility to present a good image of the Cornhusker State.”
Across town, Juliet Traver-Kazemba, a business and law major at Nebraska, felt the same responsibility to represent the state. A Chaska, Minnesota, native who found her way to trade policy through Nebraska, she carried both identities into every introduction she made at the Washington International Trade Association.
“Whenever I introduce myself, I represent both my personal identity and the University of Nebraska’s,” Traver-Kazemba said. “When I represent Nebraska, I also represent the trade issues and concerns that Nebraska faces, highlighting the integral agriculture industry that is impacted by trade policy on a day-to-day basis.”
Behnk and Traver-Kazemba interned in Washington, D.C., through opportunities made possible by the university's Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance. Behnk interned at DTB AgriTrade, a consulting firm that helps food and agriculture organizations navigate international trade rules. As the recipient of the Steve Nelson Yeutter Institute International Trade Internship Award, which provides $10,000 for a student to intern full time in Washington over the summer, Traver-Kazemba interned at the Washington International Trade Association, a trade community hub that hosts events, publishes research and runs a weekly podcast.
Both students quickly learned to adapt to the fast pace of the nation’s capital once the work began.
At DTB, no two days looked alike for Behnk. One day, he would be completing export certificates for chicken leg quarters and drafting a memo on a U.S. Trade Representative investigation; the next, building spreadsheets from trade databases. He also sat in on a weekly lunch-and-learn with professionals in the agricultural policy sector.
“Trade nowadays works far differently than it has before,” Behnk said. “It is less standardized and rigid, and more sporadic and informal."
That difference became clear for him during a conversation with a colleague about the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement renegotiation, where he saw firsthand how much political timing, not just policy substance, can shape when a negotiating partner is willing to make a deal.
“It was somewhat mind-blowing to me,” Behnk said.
But the biggest "aha" moment for Behnk came from his majors.
“Being a Spanish and global studies double major, I have sometimes felt that my education should have been more ag-focused,” he said. “Hearing from these professionals, however, has shown me that it is still possible to succeed in the field even if the pathway you took to get there wasn’t a straight line.”
At the trade association, Traver-Kazemba’s week became a rhythm of its own: preparing for an upcoming webinar, researching current trade events for the weekly newsletter and closing out Friday by recording the podcast “WITA's Friday Exchange.” Interns also helped plan the association’s annual dinner, coordinating invitations, sponsors and marketing materials.
Being surrounded by people deeply passionate about trade and hearing firsthand accounts from government officials, embassy staff and lobbyists, gave her a front-row seat to how far-reaching those conversations really are.
“Trade policy impacts each individual consumer, making itself a major issue area,” she said. “While the trade community may seem small, it has arguably one of the greatest impacts on everyone’s day-to-day lives.”
That experience in the trade community shaped how she approached her time in Washington.
“My biggest ‘aha’ moment in D.C. has been realizing the power of networking,” Traver-Kazemba said. “Say yes to as many opportunities as you can. Every outing can become a networking event that benefits your career for many years to come.”
For Behnk and Traver-Kazemba, representing Nebraska in Washington meant more than showing up. It meant bringing a bit of home with them and carrying a piece of the capital back as the summer ended.
Learn more about the Yeutter Institute and its internship opportunities here or email yeutterinstitute@unl.edu.
