Summer Internship Program: Wythe County

Primary Program Area Focus:  FCS

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

• Assist with the Wythe County Extension’s Grow Wythe Us Community Gardens project
• Assist with various food safety training programs (Certified Food Protection Manager, Food Handler Food Safety, and Food Allergen Awareness Training for the Food Service Industry)
• Assist with food preservation trainings (canning, dehydration, fermentation, etc)
• Assist with food demos, food safety education booths, etc., at area farmers markets and fairs
• Coordinate with area Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) agents, the Area Food Safety Extension Agent, Horticulture agents, and Extension Specialists to offer FSMA-Produce Food Safety Rule/GAP trainings and/or onsite visits as needed for area produce growers
• Plan and conduct at least one educational program during the internship period
• Write one newspaper article that will help educate the public on a relevant food safety topic
• Document with media and/or written narrative, the VCE intern experience and deliver a presentation to area Board of Supervisors and District Director/Unit Coordinators at the end of the internship

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

• Develop a better understanding of the food safety needs in Virginia from farm to fork and the integral role VCE plays to meet those needs
• Gain conceptual understanding that VCE is an integral part of the local community and serves as a conduit for information delivery and collaboration
• Develop awareness that VCE is a front door to the University and serves as a local avenue to its resources
• Develop awareness of local government issues/community needs and the ability to create and deliver educational programs to meet those needs
• Improved public speaking and presentation skills

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

The Wythe VCE intern will have the opportunity to attend and work on collaborative programs with VCE agents from multiple program areas (Agriculture, Food Safety, Food Nutrition & Health, Family & Consumer Sciences, Horticulture, Community Viability, 4-H, etc.) throughout the southwest district as well as various extension specialists and partner agencies to gain a holistic view of the work that VCE does.

Intern Knowledge Area/Skills Desired:

• Interest in agriculture, food science, food safety, and community food systems
• Good organizational skills and self-motivated
• Ability and desire to work with a diverse audience and age levels
• Public speaking skills
• Desire to educate