Summer Internship Program: Buckingham County

Primary Program Area Focus: 4-H

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

In the recent situation analysis, two of the top issues identified for Buckingham County were agriculture & forestry, and positive youth programming. Hiring a VCE summer intern will enable Virginia Cooperative Extension to provide additional programming during the summer to address these needs. The intern in this position will split his/her time between 4-H (65%) and ANR (35%)

Late May

• VCE orientation; training
• Work with ANR Agent on wrap up from Livestock Show; preparing for events
• Work with 4-H Agent on Day Camps and preparation for 4-H Camp
• Work with 4-H Agent/PFSWCD in preparing for and conducting Watershed Exploration Camp

June

• Work with UAA and ANR Agent to package and distribute ear tags for the BCA telo-auction
• Work with UAA and ANR Agent in mailings to producers
• Work with ANR Agent on farm visits
• Work with 4-H Agent in perparing for and conducting 4-H Camp and Cloverbud Weekend
  

July

• Work with 4-H Agent in compiling evaluations from Jr. 4-H Camp.
• Work with 4-H Agent and Program Assistant in preparing for, conducting, and evaluating 4H Day Camps.
• Assist ANR Agent in Record Keeping during Cattle Grading (Farm Visits)
• Assist UAA or ANR Volunteer in inputting data into the computer; printing and mailing packets for BCA Telo-Auction

Early August

• Assist with BCA Telo-Auction preparation and cattle load out
• Complete intern evaluation

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

The intern will gain the following knowledge / skills:

• 4-H program planning and delivery
• Knowledge of and skills related to positive youth development
• cattle working
• the many facets of preparing cattle for market
• the contributions VCE makes to the Agriculture community in terms of providing information, education and support
• the importance of proper record keeping
• how to manage time effectively

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

Through working in a very busy Extension Unit, the Intern will be immersed in 4-H programming and ANR programming with a special emphasis on cattle production. He/she will work with youth in camp settings and interact with their parents/guardians on the phone and in person. He/she will interact with agricultural producers as well as clientele with home gardening, forestry, pest control, or related questions.  Through everyday activity, answering phones, and greeting walk-in clients, the VCE summer intern will gain a good understanding of Extension summer programming at the local level.