As I’ve spent more time in my internship position here at Douglas County Extension, I have gotten to see a side of Extension and 4-H that I didn’t have a good understanding of before. Before my internship, I didn’t realize how much work goes into everything before the fair actually starts. Now that the Douglas County Fair is finished, I have a much better understanding of how much time, planning and work goes into making everything happen for the youth involved in 4-H. 

A big part of my internship has been helping with the County Fair. We were preparing in the main Extension office until mid-July, and then moved out to the fairgrounds to begin preparing there, and where we spent about three weeks between preparation, fair and then putting everything away. I spent a lot of time helping in the 4-H office and wherever else I was needed during fair. Some days that meant helping with things in the office, while other times I was helping make sure things around the fair were taken care of. I really enjoyed being able to help with so many different tasks during the week and interacting with all of our 4-H families. One of the things I was most involved with was the static exhibits. I helped with getting interview times set up, communicating with exhibitors and families, preparing the static exhibit building, helping on Static Day, and making sure the exhibits were ready to go for the week of fair. I was also there to help with Static check out. Seeing the whole process from start to finish was probably one of the most valuable parts of my internship. It was a lot of work, but it was rewarding to see everything come together and know that I helped make it happen. 

I also really enjoyed getting to work with the youth and public for the week. I saw all of the kids’ names and the projects they were completing on the computer leading up to the fair, but it was so awesome to finally interact with them and put a face to their name.  

I would not say that I faced any major struggles during my internship, but I have learned that things do not always go exactly as planned. Especially during the fair, there are a lot of people, projects and things happening at the same time. I learned to take initiative and step in where it was needed, even if I wasn’t sure what I was doing. This experience has taught me many valuable lessons that I will carry with me in future jobs and life endeavors.  

Overall, this internship has taught me more than I ever initially thought. I have learned about Extension and 4-H, but I have also learned a lot about working with people, staying organized, coordinating and being willing to help wherever I am needed. Most of all, I am glad I got to experience the County Fair I grew up competing at from the other side and see how much work goes into making it a good experience for the 4-H members. I am grateful for the people I have worked with and for everything I have been able to be a part of during my internship. 

– Amaya Slay