Getting into the field

For college students, internships can be a step between classroom learning and preparing for their careers. They offer hands-on experience, mentorship and a chance to see what a real-world job in their field looks like.

For Kansas State University student Ashlynn Hartman, her summer internship with Corteva Agriscience provided experience in crop sales and agronomy, showing her both the challenges and rewards of the industry.

Planting the Seed

Hartman, a native of Pawnee City, Nebraska, grew up on her family’s corn and soybean operation, where her interest in agronomy first began. After a visit where she observed a weed science class, she decided to attend K-State.

Once there, Hartman’s leadership roles and involvement in student organizations prepared her for the demands of a crop sales internship.

“I think the amount of leadership, opportunities that we have at K-State prepared me,” she says.

With that foundation, Hartman’s summer internship stepped into her role as a commercial sales intern with Corteva Agriscience, working with Brevant Seeds across eastern Nebraska.

“My summer focused around three areas: sales, service and agronomy,” Hartman says.

From visiting farmers to scouting crops and assisting retailers, Hartman gained experience in every aspect of the job. She says that the combination of technical skills, communication and problem-solving made the internship both challenging and rewarding.

“I did everything that a Brevant retail sales agronomist would do,” she says. “The nice part is, I love agronomy because the day-to-day is always different.”

The internship allowed Hartman to translate her classroom knowledge into practical problem-solving.

Hartman says that “it was real world experience, my most realistic internship to date.”

Harvesting Success

A highlight of the summer was presenting her experience with Brevant Seeds and promoting it to a group of farmers.

“It was by far the most meaningful, being able to help in the full sales cycle,” Hartman says. “I got to reflect on the summer and felt proud of it.”

The experience reinforced her confidence in pursuing an agronomy career.

“It's made me excited to graduate and go out and be able to actually do this,” Hartman says.

She credits K-State’s combination of coursework and leadership opportunities for preparing her to handle responsibilities of the internship.

“K-State gave me not just the technical knowledge I needed, but also opportunities to take on leadership roles and real-world experiences that made me confident stepping into a professional setting,” she says.

Hartman says her time at K-State provided access to experiences and connections that made the internship possible.

“Employers see the value of K-State students, and they really seek them out,” Hartman says.

She encourages other students to seek internships early and explore different areas within their field.

Hartman says, “go and get that experience. I think that's important, especially in this, to figure out what you want to do."

Olivia Wright graduated in agricultural and natural resources communications in fall 2025. This story originally appeared in the spring 2026 edition of The Agriculturist — the student-produced magazine of the College of Agriculture.