Listening, learning and storytelling: A Pathways student’s first year

How many 22-year-old students have the social and emotional maturity to interview the governor; ranchers; county commissioners and sheriffs; rural fire chiefs and firefighters; local volunteer and non-profit groups; local business owners; the BLM state director; federal and state land managers; scientists; professional athletes; college professors and students of archeology, biology and range sciences; and wild horse trainers?

The BLM in Idaho has one such student as a videographer in external affairs. Her name is Hannah Cain. She's listened to, learned from, and had the honor of telling the stories of at least one hundred people in her first year on the job. In 12 months, Hannah produced almost 50 videos (https://www.youtube.com/user/BLMIDAHO/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=1) featuring BLM's partnerships and people working on public land. That equates to a new story each week about rangeland, recreation, wildfire and fuels, wildlife and fisheries habitat restoration, wilderness, wild horses and the oldest archaeological site in North America.

Public Service Announcement with the Idaho Governor, Brad Little, about Idaho Firewise messages. (Photo by BLM)

BLM Idaho State Director, John Ruhs, speaks about the Programmatic EIS for Fuel Breaks in the Great Basin. (Photo by BLM)

Simply stated, Hannah brings public land partners and work to life in a highly visible medium. We asked her a few questions. Here is what this quiet, introverted but strong videographer had to say.

1.  What is you major and school?

I'll graduate with a degree in Environmental Studies this December (2019) from Boise State University.

Interview with Dustin Miller, Idaho Department of Lands Director, about a fuels partnership project in the Bruneau and Owyhee field offices. (Photo by BLM)

2. Where did you grow up? What was the best part of your childhood?

I was raised in Challis, Idaho, a place that continues to teach me about humility and hard work. My fondest memories include hunting geese on the river, chukar hunting in the hills, collecting firewood, raising animals and cooking big meals together with my parents and two brothers. In a family of extroverts, I became a good listener which serves me well in making videos.

Hannah Cain hunts in Idaho's highest mountains with her family. (Photo by Joni Cain)

3. You received a college track scholarship. What was your best event and best time?

Any time I ran 400m under a minute, I was happy.

4. Didn't you celebrate your first year with the BLM and Idaho's birthday by making an Idaho video?

I started as a Pathways intern in July 2018. I began thinking about the storehouse of footage collected over the last year and Idaho's birthday (July 1890) was around the same time. I wanted to celebrate with a video of my favorite shots from the year! Some of the footage is from talented and wise people around the state and some is mine. Each shot marks a very special moment in my time here at the BLM. Here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCCAtA-MMMQ&feature=youtu.be. I beam with gratitude when I think about it: the places I've gone, people I've met and things I've seen through the lens of a camera. Some moments are quite familiar to me, others are highly unlikely, but I'm grateful for each of them.    

Hannah Cain films two field biologists monitoring a creek for fisheries habitat in the BLM Salmon Field Office. (Photo by Antonia Hedrick)

5. What people or topics inspire you the most?

I am inspired by people who are passionate about their work. It's an honor to be able to tell their story and it's my favorite part of the gig. There are such epic projects being implemented and so much hard work being done. I get to preserve that when I make a video. I'm honored that people trust me to tell their story. They inspire, guide and challenge me.

Story by Antonia Hedrick, Visual Information Specialist. Photos by Hannah Cain (Videographer), Antonia Hedrick, and courtesy of Joni Cain.