Government Affairs Intern (CA, CO, MI, OR, TX, WA)

Location: Home Office, Colorado, United States

Investing in You, join a 100-year-old, family-owned leader in Ag – and grow with us!

Wilbur-Ellis invests heavily in our employees by offering skill development and training, competitive compensation and benefits, and a tradition of promoting from within for a broad range of career opportunities. And we foster a supportive, people-first work environment.

“We know the confidence gap can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply — we’d love to hear from you.”

Our Summer Internship Program

Our Summer Internship Program (PLOT) offers an opportunity to gain meaningful experience in Government Affairs while building the foundation for a successful career. During this 12-week program, you'll learn from industry professionals, tackle real-world projects, and develop working knowledge of government relations, public policy, regulatory affairs, and advocacy in support of agriculture and agribusiness. You'll have the opportunity to present your internship learnings directly to leadership. This is more than just an internship. It's your chance to make a real impact, build professional knowledge, and sharpen your abilities in a dynamic, results-driven environment. Successful completion of the PLOT program can also earn you a scholarship between $1,000 and $3,000.

Role Overview

As a Wilbur-Ellis Government Affairs Intern, you'll gain experience in public policy research, legislative and regulatory monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and industry advocacy efforts. You'll support the Government Affairs team in tracking policy developments that impact agriculture, preparing research and briefing materials, and assisting with special projects related to state and federal issues. You'll have the opportunity to share your ideas, provide a unique perspective, and contribute to meaningful initiatives that help support the business and the agricultural industry. At the conclusion of your internship, you'll prepare and present a final PowerPoint presentation highlighting your project work, key learnings, and overall experience.

What You Bring to the Role

As an intern, we understand you may not already have a world of experience under your belt. We are seeking a college student pursuing a degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Business, Agricultural Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, Communications, Government Affairs, or a related field with an interest in agriculture and public affairs.

Overall, we are looking for someone with strong research, writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills; the ability to organize information and manage multiple priorities effectively; intellectual curiosity about public policy and regulatory issues; a self-starter who is eager to contribute ideas and learn; and someone who brings their full self to work each day. We want to help you grow, and we want to learn from you, too.

Examples of What You May Gain

Exposure to government affairs, public policy, and regulatory issues affecting agriculture and agribusiness

Experience researching and analyzing legislative, regulatory, and industry developments at the state and federal levels

Opportunities to collaborate with internal business leaders, industry associations, and external stakeholders

Development of research, policy analysis, communication, and presentation skills

Insight into how public policy and advocacy efforts influence business operations and strategic decision-making

Mentorship from experienced Government Affairs professionals and business leaders

A deeper understanding of the relationship between agriculture, government, and industry advocacy

Hands-on experience supporting projects that help advance priorities important to growers, customers, employees, and the agricultural industry

Compensation and Benefits

In compliance with all states and cities requiring transparency of pay, the base compensation for this position ranges from $17.00 to $24.00 per hour. Note that wages may vary based on location, skills, and experience.

Please note that salary ranges provided for this role on external job boards are salary estimates made by outside parties and may not be accurate.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity of people, cultures, opinions, and ideas makes us all stronger. From leadership commitment to employee buy-in, we know that creating an inclusive environment and providing opportunities for all employees to reach their full potential is a shared responsibility.

Wilbur-Ellis is a company you can be proud to call your employer

Wilbur-Ellis markets and distributes agricultural products, animal feed specialty chemicals, and food ingredients. A privately held and consistently profitable company, we employ more than 4,000 people throughout North America and Asia-Pacific.

Wilbur-Ellis is for and about people

Wilbur-Ellis has enjoyed over 100 years of success and growth, all thanks to our people. Our employees are both leaders and team players who thrive on creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and a dedication to quality work, our customers, and each other.

Wilbur-Ellis invests in the industry’s best workforce

Wilbur-Ellis invests heavily in our employees by offering skill development and training, competitive compensation and benefits, and a tradition of promoting from within for a broad range of career opportunities. And we foster a supportive, people-first work environment.

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