Eastern Iowa Farmer Fall 2017

Global perspective
An internship with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Foreign Agricultural
Service put everything
together for her: agriculture,
advocacy, and using science
to set standards for trade
and production. She had
found her calling.
Hueneke Martens opted
out of the pre-vet program
and graduated with degrees
in animal science and
international agriculture.
A full-ride scholarship to
Oklahoma State University
led her to a master’s degree
in international agriculture
trade and development.
She honed her skills at a
variety of jobs that, Acker
believes, set her up perfectly
for her current position.
Eastern Iowa Farmer Photo / Brooke Taylor
McKenna and dad, Jody, go for an ATV ride on their property near St. Donatus.
“It is like the perfect
storm,” he said. “It’s the
convergence of someone
who has developed international
knowledge, the science
knowledge of animals,
and the policy dimension.
I know one or two people
who are good at one or two
of those things. But if you
bring the three together, it’s
a very unique skill set.”
Merck noticed that too,
and Hueneke Martens was
tapped for a global public
policy team being developed
by the biopharmaceutical
company with more
than 10,000 employees.
Merck develops prescription
medicines, vaccines, biologic
therapies, and animal health
products.
In 2014, Jeff May, director
of global public policy for
Merck’s human and animal
divisions, was putting
together a team. He received
Hueneke Martens’ résumé
through a recruiting firm. At
the time, she was director of
international trade policy,
sanitary and technical issues
for the National Pork Producers
Council.
“I liked the experience
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fall 2017 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 103