Not My First Rodeo…Oh Wait, It Is: The Rookie Interns First Week at WSGA

When people picture ranching in Wyoming they usually think of wide-open pastures, plenty of cows, and maybe a little dust in the wind. What don’t they think about? An office intern with a Canva tab open, three half-done social media posts, and a very real fear of misspelling someone’s name in a graphic.

Hi, I’m that intern.

Since last Thursday, I, Rose Wendel of southeast North Dakota, have been working with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association prepping for 2025 Summer Convention. But how did I even get here? Let’s rewind.

Toward the end of my second year at the North Dakota State College of Science, an hour and a half from home, I found myself at my computer once again applying to the University of Wyoming. I had also done this my senior year of high school, but a college volleyball opportunity stepped into my way. I got to keep my student loan debt in check, stay close to home, and still wear a jersey on game day — even if our locker rooms doubled as storage closets. The real unexpected bonus? I met this baseball guy from northeast Montana with caveman-level facial hair. We were two farm kids turned junior college athletes who knew the value of hard work and appreciated each other. So, right before I packed up and hit the road south for Wyoming, he asked me to marry him. I left for a new chapter with a packed car and a shiny new ring. After harvest, he followed me to Laramie of course. But more on that another time.

My first year at the University of Wyoming was a blast! I joined the livestock judging team and club volleyball, which quickly took up most of my free time. Still, I made some great friends and got involved in the Wyoming Collegiate Cattle Association, and the end of the year, I was voted president.

Then one day, walking through the Animal Science Building in February, I noticed the flashy red advertisement for the WSGA Internship. It was a no brainer for me. Cows, article writing, event planning, and covered a requirement toward my bachelor’s.

I’m majoring in agricultural communications and minoring in music which is probably the most opposite combo you’ll find on campus. But I love that I get to balance ag work with choir rehearsals. It keeps life interesting and totally me.

There’s certainly more lore to drop, but it’ll come with time.

So, fast-forward to today and I’m in my office chair that makes my butt go numb by the end of the day. But this past week there’s definitely plenty to reflect on.

This week, I designed the flyer for the Environmental Stewardship Tour coming up on June 25, and I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. I also cranked out a bunch of table cards, room signs, and other print materials for our summer convention next week. I try to add a modern, young-person touch to my designs, and I think people appreciate the fresh look.

On top of that, I sent out the official stewardship invite and got to play around in Excel (nerdy, I know) organizing the RSVP spreadsheet and making sure everyone on the list got contacted. It felt good to have a handle on all the little details and to see it all coming together.

Also, shout-out to my boss Madeline! She’s the marketing and comms director and quite literally the best ever. Quick-witted, knows her stuff, and makes the office way more fun to be in. Plus, she brings her mini wiener dog–collie mix to work, who might actually be the office MVP.

I’m still figuring out this whole office thing, but it’s going surprisingly well. When I get enough work done, I reward myself with some squats, a walk around the building, or a trip to the post office with Madeline and Winnie. Because if you don’t get up and move, the chair will claim you.

One of the more interesting moments this week was writing out the big check (yes, like the oversized kind you see in photos) for this year’s Environmental Stewardship Award winners. They’re getting recognized at convention, which is awesome. Oh — and we took a trip to the Wyoming State Capitol the other day, where Jay Butler and his family got an official proclamation from the governor declaring 2025 Wyoming Environmental Stewardship Day. Just a short walk down the street but still felt like a big-deal moment.

Next week’s shaping up to be packed with early mornings, lots of moving parts, probably a few Bubblr-fueled scrambles, but I’m genuinely looking forward to it. There’s something cool about seeing hard work come together after weeks of planning. And if nothing else, I’ll definitely have stories.

If you see me sprinting through a convention center with a half-eaten granola bar and a handful of name badges, mind your business.

Be back soon, with more tales from the land of cattle and caffeine.

Rose Wendel