Hello! My name is Tanley Andersen and I am from Haxtun, Colorado. Haxtun is small community in northeast Colorado with a population of about 1000 people, which means it is smack dab in the middle of nowhere. One of the perks of growing up in a small town is the connections you make with community members, which is how I got in touch with Ogallala Commons last year.

I am 16 and currently in my junior year of high school. Like most high school students, I am involved in many extracurricular activities. I am president of my local FBLA chapter. I play volleyball and basketball, as well as running track and participating in cheer-leading. I am also an active 4-H and FFA member. When I’m not busy with extracurriculars or working part-time at our local movie theatre, you can find me camping with my friends and family or crafting at home with my mom.

This will be my second Ogallala Commons Internship and I am so excited to share my experiences and newfound passion for rural development. Like last summer, my internship this will involve assisting businesses with marketing. This usually includes designing advertising graphics, managing social media accounts and putting together business portfolios.I will be working with our local chamber of commerce, hospital district and several local businesses.
When I graduate high school, I plan to study business administration with an emphasis in marketing. I am very grateful for this opportunity because my internship last year allowed me to develop marketing skills in a professional setting, and I plan to develop those skills even further this summer.