Guest Column: Meet the Interns

July 31, 2026 Weekly Column By Interns Cassie, Brooke, Levi, Owen, Ben, and Brooklyn This summer, five interns spent the summer in Washington, D.C. and one intern served in the Sioux Falls office to experience the work of a congressional office. An internship in Congressman Johnson’s office provides hands-on learning about Congress, policy, and constituent services. Meet the interns : Cassie grew up in Brookings, South Dakota and is studying agribusiness management with a minor in public law at the University of Wyoming. Her favorite part of the internship was being able to connect with fellow South Dakotans in the agriculture industry. Brooke is originally from Worthington, Minnesota and just recently graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in political science. She hopes to build her career in political communications and digital media. Levi , a rising junior at Augustana University, is double majoring in mathematics and government and international affairs with a minor in trusts. His favorite part of the internship was all the relationships he built. Owen grew up in Brookings, South Dakota and is studying political science and international relations at Stanford University. He hopes to eventually attend law school. Ben , a rising junior at Vanderbilt University, is double majoring in political science and business. He hopes to pursue a career in law or government relations. He enjoyed getting to see how South Dakota’s biggest issues play out nationally. Brooklyn is originally from southwest Minnesota and will be a first-year law student at the University of South Dakota. After law school, she hopes to pursue a career in agricultural and environmental law. Her favorite part of the internship was getting the opportunity to work directly with South Dakotans, helping them navigate and resolve the issues they brought to our office through congressional casework. Every day brought new opportunities and experiences. We spent some days buried in policy research and others sitting in on hearings or tagging along to meetings. Owen was able to attend a hearing with the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, gaining a firsthand look at how Congress approaches one of the country’s most pressing national security issues. For many of us, the most meaningful moments came from connecting the work back home to South Dakota. Cassie had the chance to meet with South Dakota agricultural organizations, sitting in on conversations that shape the policies farmers and ranchers across the state depend on. Brooke spent time on media row, getting a hands-on introduction to the political communications world. Whether through policy or press, we found real ways to plug into the issues that matter most to South Dakotans. Beyond the substance of the work, what stuck with us most was the office itself – the people, the mentorship, and the chance to learn by doing. We left the summer with a genuine understanding of what public service looks like day-to-day. It was a summer well spent, and one that gave us a taste of life in Congress!