Jackie Garagiola

Jackie grew up on a farm in Southeast Kansas with her parents and three older brothers, where, like many, her love for the agricultural industry began. Her education continued at Kansas State University and then at the University of Nebraska College of Law where she graduated in May of 2021 with her Juris Doctorate and a Specialization in International Trade and Business. Jackie was sworn in as a practicing attorney in Kansas the same year. During her time at K-State, she was already focused on agricultural policy during her internship with the Office of Senator Jerry Moran. “The opportunity to apply for the inaugural class of Food and Ag Policy Fellows was presented to me. I immediately applied because it finally felt like a program perfectly tailored to someone with my dual interests and commitment to agriculture and the political realm.” Since she was already in D.C., Jackie was able to use her current internship to satisfy the federal portion of the program. The fellowship then connected her with the legal and lobbying firm, Devine, Donley & Murray Governmental Affairs where she made connections that, would eventually help her obtain the position of Associate Counsel and lobbyist for the Kansas Livestock Association. “Now I advocate for agricultural policy and assist the states farmers and ranchers with key legal issues impacting their operations. To this day I work alongside the same attorneys and lobbyists I connected with during my year with the Food and Ag Policy Fellowship.”