Summer Internship Program: Augusta

Primary Program Area Focus:  4-H And ANR

1. Describe your plans for this internship.  (i.e. What specifically will the intern be doing?)

This internship will primarily be focused on 4-H Youth Development, and Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) projects.

The intern will work on various 4-H Youth Development program initiatives including: 

• Assist with the Augusta 4-H/FFA Market Animal Show & Sale (dependent of start date)
• Assist with the Augusta 4-H/FFA Market Animal Show & Sale Awards Banquet
• Assist with updates to the Augusta 4-H/FFA Market Animal Show website
• Attend and assist with 4-H camp
• Planning and implementation of day camps and workshops 
• Assist with a locally hosted “Judge Like a Champ Camp” 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Clinic
• Assist with Northern District Livestock Show
• Assist with state-level 4-H events, such as 4-H Congress and contests  
• Help with the running of summer SPIN clubs
• Assist with 4-H-related Augusta County Fair activities, such as the 4-H fair booth and the youth livestock shows and premier exhibitor skill-a-thon contest
• Design, plan, and deliver a workshop or day camp 
• Label and laminate 4-H meats contest ID photos

Additionally, the intern will assist with several agriculture and natural resource projects: 

• Updating ANR beef, sheep, goat, horse and crops mailing lists
• Intern may analyze historical data ultrasound carcass evaluation data for Augusta Market Animal Show, including beef steers, market hogs and market lambs
• Work to analyze historical Augusta County 4-H/FFA Market Animal Show Steer data for historical trends

• Analyze and report on historic SVAREC McCormick Farm Cow Herd Data to develop cow calf performance benchmarks
• Collect data on standard performance analysis for beef herds using a VCE Cow Calf Herd Performance Survey and help conduct economic data for averaging annual cow carrying costs per year.

SNAP Programming

• Assist with Community Garden crop harvesting and garden maintenance.
• Assist with distribution of food from garden to clientele in need
• Assist with promotion of Community Garden and services and resources to area residents
• Provide educational opportunities to clients regarding selecting healthy foods

2.  Describe the knowledge / skills you expect the intern to gain from this experience.  

The intern will gain experience in designing and delivering educational, hands-on programming to youth ages 5 - 18 years old. Augusta has a strong youth livestock program and thus the intern will gain valuable experience in delivering youth livestock and agricultural programming, and have the opportunity to assist with state level events. The intern will gain experience in marketing programs by designing flyers and assisting with the management of social media platforms, and will also learn valuable skills regarding risk management planning by assisting with Junior 4-H Camp. 

The intern will gain experience in maintaining a contact/client list/customer file by updating the existing Augusta mailing list.  The intern will also gain experience building relationships with producers by contacting them and lining up producer to producer mentorship opportunities.  Additionally, the intern will gain experience with designing of flyers and marketing programs.  Lastly, the intern will gain experience in demonstration and research data analysis in both crop and animal projects.  Below is a bulleted summary.

• Public relations and communications – updating databases and contacting clients
• Marketing skills & VCE branding – program advertising materials
• Organizational skills – juggling programs, scientific data collection
• Analytical thinking – assisting with ANR field studies

3.  How will the intern learn about the breadth of VCE and our various program areas?

The internship is primarily 4-H and ANR focused.  The intern will assist with planning and conducting summertime 4-H activities.  The intern will gain experience in developing both crop and soil environmental science and animal science Extension programs.  Additionally, the intern will have the opportunity to work with our FNP program assistant in planning and cultivating a community garden.