Red Angus Interns to Lend Assistance During Summer Run
DENVER — Red Angus is excited to welcome two summer interns to assist with summer operations, sales and shows.
Brock Fitzgerald, of Shirley, Illinois, will be serving the Red Angus Association of America as the commercial marketing team summer intern. He will be engaged in herd visits and conducting field audits as required for the breed’s Feeder Calf Certification Program.
“We are excited to welcome Brock to the Red Angus team. His involvement growing up in our Junior Red Angus program gives him unique perspective and experience to share with commercial cattle producers. We look forward to Brock’s work with ranchers enrolled in our FCCP,” said Harold Bertz, RAAA director of commercial marketing.
Fitzgerald grew up on a small cattle seedstock operation and was involved in projects and leadership within FFA and 4-H where he served as the 4-H club president for two years.
He is currently a junior at Oklahoma State University, studying livestock merchandising. After graduation, Fitzgerald may attend graduate school but is also interested in entering the agriculture industry to work as a ranch consultant or livestock insurance agent. He intends to continue building his own cattle operation as well.
“I am excited to be a part of the Red Angus team. The RAAA has provided many opportunities for me, and I am very thankful for this new opportunity to see many different operations and to give back to an organization that has given so much to me,” said Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald will be responsible for scheduling audits for the Feeder Calf Certification Program to satisfy USDA requirements for participating ranches. He will be primarily calling on farmers, ranchers and feedlots throughout Wyoming, Montana and Colorado, and assisting the Red Angus marketing team with other commercial marketing activities as needed. He will also attend summer video sales promoting Red Angus value-added programs.
Megan Underwood, a graduate student at Kansas State University, will be joining the communications department this summer to assist with multimedia projects, Junior Red Angus promotions and editorial production for RAAA publications.
“We are excited to add Megan to our team this summer – her experience in various segments of the beef industry will be tremendously valuable as we enter a summer full of events and projects to profile and promote,” said Brandi Buzzard Frobose, RAAA director of communications and Red Angus Magazine editor.
Underwood was raised on her family’s farm in Campbellsville, Kentucky, where she started her own herd of Hereford cattle to show and sell nationally. She graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in animal sciences & industry. During her undergraduate career, Megan was a member of the meat judging team, served as a College of Agriculture Ambassador and was recognized as the Block & Bridle Rookie of the Year.
Underwood is currently pursuing her Master of Science in agricultural education and communication at Kansas State University. Her research focuses on developing strategic communication strategies for beef breed associations to meet producer demands.
Megan brings a strong communications background to the team through her past experiences with the Beef Improvement Federation, Drovers and her time as National Red Angus Convention media intern in 2021.
“I am excited to combine my passions for the beef industry and communicating industry findings to Red Angus breeders and producers this summer,” said Underwood.
The Red Angus Association of America serves the beef industry by enhancing and promoting the measurable advantages of Red Angus and Red Angus-influenced cattle. The RAAA provides commercial producers with objectively described cattle by implementing new technologies and utilizing scientifically sound principles that quantify traits of economic importance to beef producers in all segments of the beef industry. For more information, visit www.RedAngus.org.