August « 2025 « OSU Extension Internship Program

Hi, my name is Heidi Moran, and this summer I have been the Union County intern. This summer has
been busy with many incredible experiences. During my internship, I mainly worked with various 4-H
events. Before this internship, I was always extremely involved in 4-H. I have enjoyed working for 4-H
and being able to see all the work that goes into running all of the events I used to participate in. This
summer, I helped with the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, Union County Interstate Exchange Trip, Tri-
County 4-H Camp and the Union County Fair.

Heidi Moran and Shelby Benson strike a pose at the Tri-County 4-H Camp Celebration. Photo: Heidi Moran

This summer, I was able to help with the Tri-County 4-H camp. This year’s camp theme was board
games. Before camp, I helped prepare all of the necessary supplies that we would need at camp. At
camp, I helped with check-in, board game Pictionary and popping popcorn. I also taught an ice cream
class with our office specialist, Shelby Benson. We also created a playlist for the celebration and MCed
the celebration. 4-H camp was always a highlight of my summer every year, and I enjoyed being able to
help out.

The main event I helped with this summer was the Union County Fair. I helped with preparations for the
fair, such as making exhibitor packets, putting together clerk books and preparing awards. Before the
fair started, I helped with the horse show and pre-fair contests such as the fashion revue. During the fair
week, I was the clerk for all of the livestock shows and handed out ribbons for the steer show. OSU
Extension also had a booth at the fair, so I helped decorate (we won), staff the booth and engage with
the public, informing them of all the opportunities presented by OSU Extension. When I had free time
from helping with 4-H events. It was a great Union County Fair!

An office project I helped with this summer was the renovation of our conference room. We were
getting new flooring put in, so Shelby Benson and I pulled up some of the carpet. We also painted the
bottom of the conference room walls blue. When the flooring was finished, we brought all of the
furniture back in and arranged it. This is a project that will have a lasting impact on space functionality
for community members.

This will be my final summer as an intern. Over the last 3 years, I have learned many things, such as time
management, organization and how to paint (kind of). I also made many relationships and memories
over the past 3 years. I will be able to use what I have learned and the relationships I have built in my
future career as an educator.

Hi again! For those of you I missed last time around, my name is Riley Hampton. This is my
second summer working with the Oregon State University Extension Internship Program. This
summer, I have had the opportunity to work with Umatilla County 4-H!

A Cloverbud rabbit showman proudly shows off their project during the Umatilla County Fair. Photo: Shauna Newman

This summer has been a fun, but busy one. Two weeks ago, Umatilla County 4-H participated in
the Umatilla County Fair, where youth participated in many activities and contests all week long.
From Food Preservation to Dairy Showmanship, 4-H members exhibited their skills, knowledge
and sportsmanship all fair long.

One new contest this year was dedicated to our youngest members of 4-H. Cloverbud Show and
Tell debuted this year, allowing 4-Hers from the ages of 5-8 to bring in their pets (anything from
turkeys to hamsters) and show them off. The goal of Show and Tell was to teach Cloverbuds the
care and attention it takes to bring an animal to the fair, as well as to get them started in the
world of Small Animal Showmanship. Well, I do hope Cloverbud Show and Tell lived up to its
goals, especially considering I was the judge!

In all seriousness, this summer has been an amazing experience. I learned so much, met tons of
new 4-Hers and worked beside some of the best people all summer long. I’d like to thank my
supervisor, Shauna Newman. This is her last year with 4-H, and she has been absolutely
amazing. I am so thankful for this summer with Oregon State University Extension so far, and so
excited for the rest of the summer to come.

My summer with Oregon State University Extension has been very fulfilling, and I have learned
a lot through this experience. My knowledge has deepened, and I have created new connections
with my community. I am grateful for this opportunity and the memories I made.

Ashley Treadwell assists students in preparing snacks after a tour through the garden. Photo: Rachel Sorensen

One of my favorite parts of my internship was visiting elementary schools each week to teach the
Growing Healthy Kids curriculum to 1st graders. During the final week, we took the students to
the community garden so they could see firsthand how food is grown. My supervisor, volunteers
and co-workers each led small groups of students through the garden, pointing out the various
fruits and vegetables being cultivated. The students were ecstatic and eager to learn about
everything the garden had to offer.

After the tour, we provided snacks and refreshments. Using Food Hero recipes, we prepared
ranch, black bean dip and hummus to spread on crackers; then the students decorated their
crackers with an assortment of vegetables. Each group thoroughly enjoyed their time in the
garden and walked away having learned a lot.

One challenge I overcame during my internship this year was becoming more comfortable
speaking in front of large groups. While I know there is still room for growth, I feel my skills
have become more solid and I have gained greater confidence. This is a skill I can directly apply
to many areas of my life, whether in college or in my future career and one that will be valuable
for a lifetime.

A key takeaway that I have from my time at Extension is that a positive change within a
community begins with access to resources. Many people have the motivation to live healthier
lives, but may not know where to begin. Oregon State University Extension offers guidance and
resources to help bridge that gap and empower individuals to make that step.

-Ashley Treadwell

This summer, I had the privilege of working as an intern with the 4-H Extension Service. From
the moment I stepped into the office, I knew this was going to be more than just a seasonal job
— it was going to be an opportunity to connect with my community, strengthen my
professional skills and contribute to a program that has been making a difference in the lives of
young people for generations.

One of my first projects was creating informational bulletin boards. While this might sound
simple, it quickly became a creative challenge. The goal was to design displays that were not
only visually appealing but also informative and engaging for all ages. I researched topics,
gathered images and learned how to present information in a way that was accessible, fun and
aligned with the mission of 4-H. Seeing families stop to read the boards and talk about them
during events was incredibly rewarding — it reminded me that even small touches can leave a
lasting impact.

As the summer went on, preparations for the county fair kicked into high gear. Helping set up
for the fair was no small task. From moving tables and equipment to arranging exhibits, every
step required teamwork and problem-solving. The fairgrounds transformed from an empty
space into a lively hub of activity, showcasing livestock, crafts and the hard work of 4-H
members. I gained a deeper appreciation for the behind-the-scenes effort that makes these
events possible, and I learned that flexibility and patience are just as important as physical work
when it comes to event preparation.

One of the highlights of my internship was running a fundraiser to support the 4-H
Ambassadors. I coordinated sales, promoted the event and worked closely with both the
ambassadors and community members. This experience taught me valuable lessons about
communication, organization and the importance of building relationships. It was amazing to
see how willing people were to support a good cause when they understood the mission and
saw the passion behind it.

Looking back, this internship gave me far more than I expected. I developed practical skills —
like event planning, public speaking and creative design — that I can carry into any future role. I
also gained a stronger sense of community and learned the importance of teamwork,
adaptability and service.

But beyond the skills, what I’ll remember most are the people — the dedicated staff, the
enthusiastic 4-H members, the supportive parents and the countless volunteers who make
everything possible. Their commitment inspired me and showed me the power of coming
together to achieve something bigger than ourselves.

My summer with the 4-H Extension Service wasn’t just about bulletin boards, fair set-up, or
fundraising — it was about being part of a mission that helps youth grow into capable, caring
and contributing members of society. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have played even a
small role in that mission, and I look forward to carrying these lessons into my next chapter.

-Kyla Baxter

Hi all, Ashton Rask again. For my final blog post, and my final project of my internship,
Savannah and I helped our Education Program Assistant build bags filled with cooking utensils,
cookbooks and other informational materials. These bags will be distributed to our local
community partners for our community members to use and enjoy. This will help equip our
community with the tools they need to create a healthy and balanced meal. Attached is a photo
of Savannah Barron and me in our Columbia County Office, prepping the bags (photo to come). We created an
assembly line to get as many of the bags done as we could so we can distribute them to our
community partners.

Over the course of my internship, I have had the opportunity to help within our community
programming, which is something I have really enjoyed. Specifically, our cooking classes at the
Food Bank that are hosted alongside WIC classes. These classes are made up of youth usually
under the age of 6. We have had some of these kids attend multiple classes this summer, and
it’s been a joy to see them repeatedly. It has given me the opportunity to give back to my
community, help educate my community about the resources we have available, and share
new, healthy recipes featuring foods that are easily accessible.

Working with Kate, our education program assistant, has been a blast. She’s extremely
knowledgeable and creates a wonderful environment for those involved. The kids we had the
opportunity to work with are so much fun and are always excited about the recipes Kate brings
to the table. Our hope is that these prefilled bags help kids and families have the tools they
need to make meals more accessible.

Hello again! My name is Aspen Bowling, and I am currently getting ready to go into my third
year at Oregon State University. As I enter the final few weeks of my internship with the Oregon
State University Extension Service in Clatsop County, I’ve had time to reflect on all that I’ve
learned, the connections I’ve made and the meaningful work I’ve been fortunate to be part of.
From hands-on experience with local programs to helping at one of the county’s biggest annual
events, this internship has given me a deeper appreciation for community-based education,
agriculture and wellness.

OSU Extension intern, Aspen Bowling, snaps a photo of livestock showmen at the Clatsop County Fair. Photo: Aspen Bowling

One of the highlights of this half of my internship was attending the Joy of Gardening
Conference in Corvallis in July. This event brought together Master Gardeners, educators and
plant lovers from across the state to learn, connect and grow. I had the chance to sit in on
fascinating workshops, meet new faces and expand my knowledge of sustainable gardening
practices. Being part of a space where people were so passionate about sharing information
and building stronger garden communities was incredibly inspiring. Back here in Clatsop
County, I’ve continued supporting the OSU Master Gardener Program by helping with
educational events, prepping materials and working alongside volunteers who are committed
to teaching others how to grow food and care for the environment. It’s been a great experience
seeing how this program connects people of all ages and backgrounds. This summer, I also had
the opportunity to get creative with some digital media production. I’ve been involved in
everything from photography and graphic design to helping manage social media posts that
promote events and share the story of Extension’s work. While much of this happens behind
the scenes, it’s a big part of how Extension reaches wider audiences and keeps the community
informed and engaged. I’ve enjoyed learning how to blend creativity with communication to
support outreach and education.

One of the most meaningful parts of my internship was working at the Clatsop County Fair. Not
only was it exciting to be involved in the planning and support side like helping with 4-H events,
capturing moments through photography and being part of the team, but it also brought back
personal memories from when I was in 4-H myself. Walking through the barns and seeing youth
proudly show their animals reminded me of my own experiences growing up. It was truly
inspiring to see today’s 4-H members building confidence, learning responsibility and creating
the same kinds of lasting memories that shaped me. Being there reminded me of how impactful
those moments are and how important it is to keep supporting the next generation. Lastly, I’ve
continued working with the Family and Community Health program, assisting with outreach
and learning more about wellness education and nutrition resources. I have continued
participating in the Mobile Produce pantries, and it is still just as rewarding to see that program
firsthand. This work really showed me how Extension touches every part of community life,
from gardens to kitchens to classrooms.

With just a few weeks left, I’m grateful for everything this internship has taught me. I’ve grown
professionally, gained new skills and met so many inspiring people who are passionate about
helping others. It’s been an incredible season of growth for both the community and for me.

Hello again! Sienna Mahaffy here, checking back in after a busy, fun filled summer with Coos County Extension! 

The county fair finished up a couple of weeks ago and was a huge success! My official project was once again organizing the annual Milk Drinking Contest for our 4-H members. I contacted sponsors to supply milk and prizes (huge thanks to Organic Valley and the Oregon Dairy Council) and lined up local dairy farmers to serve as line judges, pour milk and race against the winning team. While everything worked out in the end, I made the mistake of telling my dairy farmer volunteers to arrive at the same time the contest was starting instead of a few minutes early. This left me scrambling to set up with fewer people than I initially planned for, but I learned a valuable lesson in managing and communicating with volunteers. In the end, the audience and kids had tons of fun, so I considered this year’s contest a success! 

A group of 14 people holding awards, some are wearing cow print bucket hats. — Milk drinking contestants including the winning 4-H team, the dairy farmers they raced against, the rodeo court, and Sienna. Photo: Joe Wells

At the fair, I also took a larger role in assisting with the livestock judging contest and the operation of the Purple Cow, the Coos County 4-H’s ice cream and milkshake stand and one of our biggest fundraisers. Both endeavors rely heavily on volunteers and sometimes feel like barely organized chaos, but I have enjoyed the challenge of helping my supervisor, Elissa, run these events smoothly! 

Last week, I finished my work in the cranberry bogs of Coos and Curry Counties by taking the last moth counts and removing the traps. Now Cassie, the ag agent, will analyze the data to continue making improvements in treatment protocols to help cranberry farmers! This part of my internship taught me a lot about aspects of Extension beyond 4-H. I learned just how tedious research can be; it requires repetition and precision, as insufficient or inaccurate data will cause inadequate results. However, I also realized how rewarding it is to work directly with farmers. They would stop me in the bogs with questions about treatment recommendations and I would forward these to Cassie, as I was not qualified to answer them: and other times just to chat. I learned so much from these small conversations about cranberries and the communities in the southern end of Coos County that I rarely visited growing up.  

A girl looking over green bushes reading a small booklet. — Sienna checking the moth traps in a cranberry bog. Photo: Joe Wells

This will likely be my last year as an Extension intern in Oregon, but I have loved my experience and recommend it to lots of my fellow students. I have enjoyed learning about the numerous aspects of Extension and seeing the impact it has on the communities it serves.  

Jessalyn Horton

I’ve settled into a nice groove here at the Benton County Extension Office working with well water. I’ve spent time at several farmers markets testing water samples for nitrates and talking about treatment options, health impacts, causes of high nitrates in water and other potential contaminants with folks. I have made it out to Brownsville, down to Harrisburg for Summer Sounds, up to Stayton and more.

A selfie of a girl sitting at a farmers market booth in OSU gear. — Jessalyn at the Philomath Farmers Market on June 29th. Photo: Jessalyn Horton

When I’m not out testing water, I’ve mostly been in the office creating and mailing advertising materials for our testing events. Lately I’ve been cleaning up the mailing addresses we use from old well logs using ArcGIS and my mad Microsoft Excel skills. That stuff is all necessary but not very exciting. What’s more exciting is when I get to go out on field trips.

I’ve been able to join Crystal Kelso, who works with Small Farms and Forestry here at Extension and also coordinates activities for local Veteran farmers, on a few of the Veteran events she’s organized. So far I have attended a beekeeping event at OSU’s apiary at the Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture and a farm tour out in Albany. The beekeeping event was particularly interesting since I was coming from a level of zero knowledge. I got to get up close and personal with one of the hives. By the end I was very ready to get some personal space back! I really liked the farm tour as well, I got to provide some information on an updated Oregon law that should help the farmer out and enjoyed listening and learning all about his land and the different things he’s trying out. These events provide a great opportunity to not only share resources with one another, but to help build community among people who have shared experiences. I look forward to continuing to attend these events even after my internship is done.

A girl in a bee suit holding a frame from a bee hive covered in wax and bees. — Jessalyn Horton is beekeeping at the Veteran Farmer Beekeeping Workshop on June 27th. Photo: Crystal Kelso

I also went up to the North Willamette Research and Extension Center’s (NWREC) Blueberry Field Day in late July. My fellow intern Taiva and I learned a ton about blueberries, best strategies for common pests and machine harvesting and saw some exciting research from PhD students. It’s an event that’s tailored to Oregon blueberry growers, so the information was fast and furious, but I appreciated being a sponge and seeing firsthand how OSU Extension bridges the gap between research and farmers. This week I’ll be attending a similar field day more locally on organic agriculture, heading back up to NWREC to offer nitrate testing at their open house, to the West Salem farmers market (more testing) and finishing up the week strong posted up at the OSU Extension information booth at the Polk County Fair on Friday evening. I’m excited to keep learning all summer long!

Gracie Cox

Since my last post, my weeks at Extension are flying by and I’m feeling more and more ingrained in Lane County’s projects and culture.

By far, the most exhilarating experience of my internship has been working at the Lane County Fair with our 4-H team for the 4-H and FFA Fair. Coming from a suburban background where my interactions with animals amounted to the occasional squirrel, witnessing the dedication, community and skill of 4-Hers at the fair was incredible. And even more so, I admired the efforts of 4-H families, volunteers and, of course, staff in aiding their success. While fair showed me just how much I still have to learn about this program, I’m impressed by how quickly I picked up the small details that enable an event as complex as fair to run smoothly; these being thorough and direct communication, knowing when to plan ahead and when to act in the moment and how to prioritize the public’s often contrasting needs.

A young man walking a black and white cattle in a fair barn. — A youth showman walking their steer to be groomed in the Lane County Fair’s Cattle Barn. Photo: Gracie Cox

A key takeaway from fair, and this experience as a whole, is that in public service, there is no “perfect” decision or program. There will always be unexpected (or even expected) hurdles, and the key to being successful in public-facing roles is embracing these challenges as learning opportunities. Even more, I’ve learned to focus on positive feedback and experiences to contextualize the less positive. Appreciating that, at the end of the day, your work has a net positive impact on the community is key to maintaining the vigor necessary to sustain yourself in this field. This is a lesson I plan on referring back to in all areas of my life, whether it be my education, career, relationships or as an overall approach to where and how I spend my time.

Two people sitting behind a table with yellow and blue papers on it — Gracie and Lane County 4-H’s EPA, Kate Hammarback, preparing materials for Master Showmanship at Lane County’s 4-H and FFA Fair. Photo: Elizabeth Gangwer

For future Extension interns, my advice is to throw yourself into the experience, even when it may be intimidating to try new things and potentially mess up. The “newness” of experiences and people at Extension is what makes this opportunity so beneficial. Lean into the aspects that you’re unfamiliar with and watch your confidence grow day by day. Those days will soon turn into weeks, which will turn into months, and all of a sudden, you’ll be preparing to tell Extension “goodbye.”

Hi! My name is Natalie Padilla, and I am currently an intern with the Oregon State University Extension Service in Clackamas County. I graduated from high school this year and am about to enter my first year of college at Oregon State University in the fall. Currently, I am hoping to study fisheries, wildlife and conservation sciences. One of the main goals I have for this internship is to learn how to talk to different types of people and continue to pass my knowledge on to others.

A girl standing behind a booth that has many interactive items and pamphlets — Natalie tabling at the First City Celebration in Oregon City. Photo: Macy Jones

Working with the SNAP-Ed and Family and Community Health has already educated me on things like nutrition, food safety and community outreach. So far, I have started being one of the leaders for the Walk with Ease program. We meet twice a week to provide information about staying healthy with arthritis, while also having dedicated time for stretching and walking. We also find time to include a Food Hero recipe to give out to participants for one of the two-day sessions. The participants can sample the dish and take home the recipe to recreate too. They are also provided with the nutritional and relevant food safety information.

Not only have I been able to help with Walk with Ease, but I have also been able to help with OC’s Free Food Markets at the DHS office. We hand out small bags highlighting different recipes, fruits or vegetables and matching spice or herb packets for recipes that month. Another opportunity we had was going to teach about MyPlate to elementary and middle schoolers at Naas Elementary School.

Our most recent tabling event was the Oregon City First City Celebration. Where Macy, I and others were able to tell observers about OSU Extension and the different programs that we offer! We had them spin a wheel and answer questions for a prize, let them take flyers and many other things. It was an overall great experience that allowed us to teach even more about Extension!

I am excited for even more opportunities to teach other people important knowledge and information.

OSU Extension Internship Program

Monthly Archives: August 2025

OSU Extension intern closes out three years of service and growth

OSU Extension intern embraces 4-H spirit at the Umatilla County Fair

OSU Extension intern supports communities through resource access

OSU Extension intern learns, serves and grows

OSU Extension intern empowers families with cooking resources

From Fairgrounds to Fields

Exploring Oregon agriculture one event at a time

Growing Confidence and Community

Helping communities and gaining skills with Extension

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