Summer Internship Program: Buckingham County

Primary Program Area Focus: 4-H & ANR

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%).

The internship will adhere to state COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions.  It may involve working directly with youth and adults or it may involve preparing for remote delivery of programs.  Flexibility is the key.  Any office time, face-to-face clientele contact, and farm visits will adhere to social distancing and group size restrictions.  Some work may be able to be completed remotely, while other work will involve coming into the office, on farm visits, or other program delivery sites.

Late May

• VCE orientation; training
• Work with ANR Agent on wrap up from Livestock Show; preparing for events
• Work with 4-H Agent and Program Assistant on Day Camps and preparation for 4-H Camp (either for an in-person or remote delivery)
  

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 and Program Assistant in preparing for and conducting 4-H Day Camps, 4-H Camp and Cloverbud Weekend (either in-person or remotely according to guidelines at the time).
  

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. (in-person or remote delivery).
  
• 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.