“Whenever farmers are less than one percent of the population, we’ve got to have good people in support places to protect our interests,” said David Gibson, Executive Director of Texas Corn Producers since 1999.

These “good people” are Texas Tech University students and alumni who work in policy to help protect the future of the agricultural industry. Texas Corn Producers is one of the organizations generously supporting the Davis College’s congressional internship program and creating spaces for students in government roles in both Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Gibson’s hope is that by encouraging participation in the program, the interns will end up pursuing a career in government and policy work and help become the solution to a better industry.

Gibson has served on the board of interviewers for the internship in the past. Although he encouraged[HK1]  all students to apply for the opportunity, he looked for a sense of maturity and an eagerness to learn when selecting who to send to congressional offices. These attributes are crucial for thriving in such a fast- paced environment. He also gravitated toward students with agricultural backgrounds for these positions, as they could apply a base level of knowledge to their work.

“If you just want to sit behind the desk and keep your head down, you’re not going to get anything out of it,” Gibson said. “So, you’ve got to want to do it.”

As 2024 is a farm bill year, Gibson emphasized the importance of advocating for producers’ needs to government representatives and others involved in creating policy that affects those who supply our nation with its food, fuel, and fiber. He wants consumers to understand the need for the United States to be self-sufficient, and not rely on foreign countries for our food.

“People say those guys in Washington or Austin are going to take care of us. Well, they are not going to take care of us if we do not tell them what we want,” said Gibson.

He believes that advocacy is more important now than ever, which drives his motivation to fill the halls of our nation and state’s capitals with eager individuals who will stand for the rights of our country’s producers. Gibson’s hope is that by financially supporting Texas Tech students in government internship programs, his organization can leave the world a better place than they found it and inspire students to remain involved in policy work.

“We’ve had a lot of them come to board meetings and talk to our growers about what they’ve done and that just inspires them to keep funding when they see and hear those stories,” said Gibson. “It comes full circle.”

Gibson said the most rewarding part of being involved in the program is seeing where life takes the interns farther down the road.

“You want to see the growth,” said Gibson. “Then the big reward is when you see those that stay involved and end up being leaders in other positions.”

Gunnar Griggs-Bell, Lead Writer; Nicole Jasperson, Photo Director; Kyra Hunter, Design Coordinator; Jessie Howle, Digital and Advertising Manager