Hey y’all, my name is Jack Sparks, and I am an intern for OSU Extension this summer in Polk County! At Oregon State University, I am going into my sophomore year, studying mechanical engineering with a focus on robotic control in the honors program. Robotic control can vary widely, but I hope to focus on human-robot integration and sensors. My end goal is to get a PhD in autonomous mechanisms and human-robot interaction, with the hope of being a leader in the field and providing opportunities for rural students to get more involved in engineering programs. 

4-H has played a huge role in shaping who I am and what I am studying. I have been involved in 4-H for almost a decade, where I have focused on the static and leadership side of the program. There weren’t a whole lot of STEM opportunities in my community while I was growing up, so I had to seek programs and projects actively. 4-H has given me so many opportunities that I would never have had otherwise. From being able to join a college program at 14 years old, to growing my leadership skills and being able to mentor youth; my involvement in the 4-H program is a large part of what makes me the person that I am today. 

Currently, I am gearing up for the Polk County Fair in the first week of August and doing some general office work. I have been working at the fair for the better part of five years now, but being an intern has allowed me to learn a lot more than just how to set up the static building. We are also going to be in a new space this year, which will present new challenges and allow us to experiment with new layout designs. 

As the summer continues, I will continue my general Extension work and assist wherever needed. I also plan to teach STEM-related classes as part of my project for Polk County. I want to give youth the chance to do more than just the agriculture side of 4-H and offer them the opportunities I wish I had while growing up in the program.