Farm Credit Illinois recently hired four college students studying agriculture business to complete an 8-week summer internship.

Emily Bluhm of St. Joseph

Tell us about yourself.
I was raised on my family’s Champaign County grain farm and graduated from St. Joseph-Ogden High School. I’ll be a junior this fall, pursing a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and consumer economics, finance in agribusiness with a minor in leadership studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I worked as an intern for the ACES Career Services and Special Events office. In college, I’m involved in Sigma Alpha, Collegiate Farm Bureau Chapter, Alpha Zeta Morrow, and the ACES Student Advancement Committee. I’m the daughter of Doug and Lori Bluhm of St. Joseph.

What do you value most about living and working in Rural America?

Rural America is a community filled with hard-working and ethical people who will do anything to help one another. I enjoy living and working in these close-knit communities and getting to develop strong relationships with my neighbors.

Caden Heyen of Medora

Tell us about yourself.
I was raised on my family’s Macoupin and Jersey County corn, soybean, polled Hereford, and Angus cattle farm and graduated from Southwestern High School. I’ll be a senior this fall at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and consumer economics, finance in agribusiness. Throughout the year and my whole life, I’ve worked on my family’s farm and hope to continue this into the future. I’m the son of Wayne and Jacqui Heyen of Medora.

 If you had to pick one job on the farm to do full-time, what would it be?
If it were possible, I would love to harvest full-time. There isn’t much that compares to reaping the rewards of a year’s labor late at night alongside my father and grandfather.

Parker Karrick of Patoka

Tell us about yourself.
I was raised on my family’s Marion County grain farm and graduated from Patoka High School. In the fall, I’ll transfer to Murray State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness after earning an associate’s degree in agribusiness from Kaskaskia College. I previously interned at The Equity in Alma. I’m on the Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team and a Patoka Panthers 4-H Club leader. I’m the daughter of Leslie and Angela Britt of Patoka.

What interested you in an internship with FCI?
FCI is supportive of the future generations of agriculturists. Their strong desire to help farm families made me feel this would be a great company to work for, joining a team working towards a common goal.

Jason Weller of Palmyra

Tell us about yourself.
I was raised on my family’s Macoupin County livestock farm and graduated from Northwestern High School. I will be a senior this fall pursuing bachelor’s degrees in agribusiness economics and communication studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Previously, I interned for Grigsby Farms in Tallula and Pioneer Hi-Bred International in Litchfield. I work as a student employee at Southern Illinois University Carbondale during the schoolyear. I’m the son of Wayne and Shanda Weller or Palmyra.

What does Helping Farm Families Succeed communicate to you?
Farm families have one of the hardest jobs in the industry. A farmer can make everything in their operation perfect, but Mother Nature can make all the hard work disappear in a moment. Farm Credit provides wonderful opportunities that truly impact their lives of farm families and their business.