Two Oklahoma State University students joined Oklahoma Farm Bureau in May as summer interns.
Liberty Carson and Caden Schaufele will assist with OKFB programs and participate in activities and events throughout the coming months.
Carson is an animal science and agribusiness junior at OSU. Carson will primarily work with the public policy department and the Young Farmers and Ranchers. She will assist with planning and coordinating summer youth events, learn about OKFB’s grassroots advocacy efforts and more.
“I chose this internship because I have seen the impact Oklahoma Farm Bureau advocacy efforts make in our state for Oklahoma agriculturists,” Carson said. “I wanted to be part of the legislative work Oklahoma Farm Bureau does. As a member of the agriculture community, there isn’t a better advocate for rural Oklahoma and agriculture than Oklahoma Farm Bureau.”
Carson, originally from Yukon, is a sixth-generation agriculturist with a background in cattle and wheat production. Carson was active in 4-H and FFA, and exhibited livestock from a young age, which helped develop her passion for agriculture.
Carson will graduate in spring 2025 from OSU, and plans to obtain her MBA from OSU. After completion of the master’s program, she hopes to work in public policy within the agriculture sector, specifically in livestock policy.
Schaufele is an agribusiness and pre-law senior at OSU, and during his internship, he will assist in the public policy department and help with OKFB Young Farmers and Ranchers programs.
“I have seen the impactful role Oklahoma Farm Bureau plays to advocate for rural communities and farming communities like where I grew up,” Schaufele said. “I like the state policy process and ensuring the voices of agriculturists are heard at the state Capitol and shared with our legislative leaders.”
Schaufele grew up in Hobart on his family’s cow-calf and row crop operation. He was active in FFA, where he served as the 2020-2021 southwest area vice president. He served as a legislative page in the Oklahoma Senate his senior year of high school, which inspired his interest in state policy and politics. After completing a rural economic development course this past semester, he found an interest in rural policy advocacy focusing on issues like ensuring rural broadband access and the medical marijuana industry impacts to rural communities.
Schaufele will graduate in Spring 2024 from OSU and hopes to work in the rural or agriculture policy field within the state of Oklahoma.
