Summer Internship Program: Southampton

Primary Program Area Focus:  4-H

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

The Southampton County internship will provide insight to an extension career, including programming to meet community needs, interdisciplinary programmng amongst the office.  The intern will work under the direction of the 4-H Extension agent, in partnership with the office's 4-H Program Assistant, Forestry Extension agent, and Agriculture Extension programming efforts.  The Southampton County office staff is committed to a positive internship experience and want to encourage the intern to develop programs and implement their own ideas on pre-existing programs as an integral part of our programming team.  The Southampton County internship position would create a space for the individual to work on and assist with longstanding projects and programs but will have the opportunity to customize the experience based on needs and interests.

Specific programs that will involve the intern include:

• Assume a leadership role in providing and managing 4-H programs and extension presence at the Franklin-Southampton County Fair (August 5-8, 2026).  This includes assisting volunteers with show, barn support, and supporting 4-H members in their project work.
• Assist in planning and facilitating 4-H Day Camps for youth ages 5-12.  This will be a prime example for an opportunity to assist in existing programs, while also creating space to pursue programs based on the interest of the individual.
• Support the ANR agent in farm visits, small group work, and educational programs for livestock and crops.
• Help develop and share social media content that highlights 4-H events, youth projects, and community partnerships, ensuring consistent and positive program representation.
• Contribute to pre-camp planning and preparation - including organizing materials, helping design youth activities, and coordinating logistics - and help lead, supervise, and support campers during the weeklong overnight 4-H camp (June 22-25, 2026).

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

The goal of thie internship is to allow the intern to gain knowledge of Extension programming, with an emphasis on 4-H youth development programming, and the necessary skills and expectations for a career in Extension.  Not only will this experience allow them to gain knowledge, tangible skills and experiences specific to extension, but it will also emphasize the importance of interpersonal and communication skills.  Interns will have the opportunity to network and build positive relationships amongst other extension professionals, officemates, local citizens, community partners, and youth.  Time management will be a practiced skill as the programming schedule will vary based on the needs of the programming efforts and community, exemplifying the workload of an extension professional.  The intern will also gain experience with creating programs based on the extension mode; planning, organizing and implementing programming efforts to various audiences, and evaluating the success of the program once it has been completed.  By the end of the internship, the student will have a clear picture of the expectations and rewards of Extension work and a strong foundation of professional skills applicable to future education, agriculture, or coummunity development careers.

Through hands-on involvement in multiple in muliple program areas, the intern will also gain experience in:

• youth leaderhsip and group management
• program creation and curriculum design
• community outreach and public communication
• problem-solving in dynamic programming environments
• onal experiences under the guidance of experienced staff.