Meet the Summer 2023 Land Stewardship Interns!
Posted on June 21, 2023 in Blog
Please join INHF in giving a warm welcome to our 16 land stewardship interns for the summer!
Loess Hills Land Stewardship Interns
Ethan Riedemann
Hometown: Remsen, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Largemouth bass
University: Warburg College
Major(s): Environmental Science and Studies
Minor(s): Leadership
“[I look forward to] learning about different conservation techniques with Kody and the other interns.”
Oscar Schaubert
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Favorite native plant/animal: Chipmunk and Bur oak
University: Cornell College
Major(s): Environmental Science, Data Science
“I’m most excited about learning about the native plants and ecology of Iowa.”
Kylie Tierney
Hometown: Missouri Valley, Iowa
Favorite native plant/animal: coreopsis, Northern Bobwhite
University: Simpson College
Major(s): Biology
“I am most excited for valuable hands-on experience and to learn more about prairie management and restoration!”
Central Iowa Land Stewardship Interns
Catherine Coggeshall
Hometown: Bolingbrook, IL
Favorite native plant/animal: Short-eared Owl
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Animal Ecology
Minor(s): Microbiology
“I’m looking forward to gaining hands-on experience in land stewardship and conservation while learning more about Iowa’s native plant and animal species.”
Colton Gilliam
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
Favorite native plant/animal: Greater Prairie-Chicken
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Animal Ecology
“I’m excited to learn more and see Iowa’s ecosystems across central Iowa, along with being able to identify plants and animals. I can’t wait to help restore Iowa’s land back to its native ecosystem and really feel myself making a difference.”
Rachel Sents
Hometown: Gilbert, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Blue eyed grass
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Horticulture
Minor(s): Sustainability
“I am excited to learn conservation and restoration practices, build relationships with like minded peers, and see more of Iowa’s beautiful plants and animals.”
Nathan Schmitt
Hometown: Winthrop, Iowa
Favorite native plant/animal: Shagbark hickory
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Animal Ecology
“The thing that I am most excited about for this internship is working around the state and getting to see the different landscapes in Iowa. With that, I am also excited about getting to camp when we travel for work.”
Skylyr Stewart
Hometown: St. Mary's, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Blue false indigo
University: University of Northern Iowa
Major(s): Ecology, Evolution & Organismal Biology
“Looking forward to learning about what prairie and woodland restoration is and what it all entails, as well as figuring out if this is something I would like to do for my future career.”
Jacob Sutton
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Favorite native plant/animal: Grey squirrel
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Environmental Science
“I’m looking forward to being outdoors and learning what it takes to be in the field working in conservation.”
Eastern Iowa Land Stewardship Interns
Brock Leaders
Hometown: Woodbine, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Lead plant
University: University of Iowa
Major(s): Environmental Planning
“I’ve been in the Loess Hills my whole life so seeing more of Iowa’s landscape is going to be exciting. I’m also looking forward to learning new things from new people.”
Kylie McElmeel
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Big blue stem, grey fox
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Forestry
“[I look forward to] improving my plant ID and learning any new information I can.”
Blufflands Land Stewardship Interns
Ilario Balestrieri-Fox
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Butterfly milkweed
University: University of Iowa
Major(s): Environmental Science
Minor(s): French
“I’m most looking forward to improving my plant ID skills and learning about cool native plants of Northeast Iowa!”
Connor Gittings
Hometown: Pleasant HillI, MO
Favorite native plant/animal: Wild geranium
University: Upper Iowa University
Major(s): Conservation Management
Minor(s): Marketing
“I am looking forward to gaining the skill of plant identification and feeling like I am making a difference at our visited sites along with getting my foot in the door for my future in conservation.”
Galen Iverson
Hometown: Decorah, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Barred Owl
University: University of Iowa
Major(s): Environmental Science
“I am most looking forward to expanding my knowledge on the native ecology and helping to restore it in the area I grew up in!”
Will Kopp
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite native plant/animal: Michigan Lily
University: Upper Iowa University
Major(s): Conservation Management
Minor(s): Earth Systems
“I am looking forward to participating in and learning about restoration and stewarding remnant prairies around the state.”
Cael Meyer
Hometown: Dundee, Iowa
Favorite native plant/animal: White-tailed deer
University: Upper Iowa University
Major(s): Conservation Management
Minor(s): Environmental Studies
“I hope to further my learning and use this internship to gauge where I will go next.”