4-H « OSU Extension Internship Program

My name is Amaya Slay, and I am excited to spend my summer interning with Oregon State University Extension Service in Douglas County as part of the 4-H program. I am currently a student at Oregon State University majoring in agricultural and food business management. I have always enjoyed working with youth and being involved in my community, so this internship is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience while giving back to a program that has had such a positive impact on my life.

2026 Douglas County Cloverbud Camp. The theme was ‘patriotic’ in honor of America’s 250th birthday. They made lots of crafts, made snacks and explored the Master Gardener’s Discovery Garden. Photo: Amaya Slay

Over the summer, I hope to learn more about how Oregon State Extension and the 4-H program work behind the scenes to support youth, families and communities. I am excited to develop professional skills in leadership, communication and event planning, and I hope to gain a better understanding of the many responsibilities that go into creating meaningful experiences for young people and supporting volunteers. One of the things I am looking forward to most is working with the Douglas County community and getting to know the families, volunteers and youth who make the 4-H program so successful. I can’t wait to help with summer activities and events, like the fair, that create memories for youth in the community and help them build their confidence and leadership skills. Being able to contribute to a program that positively impacts so many young individuals is something that I am looking forward to being a part of.

In the future, my career goal is to work in a field where I can continue making a difference in the lives of others, whether through education, youth development or a related profession. This internship will allow me to explore those interests while gaining valuable real-world experience. Although I am still considering different options for a career path, this has been a great opportunity to learn more about work in Extension, a career field that I have been interested in. My experience has been great so far and has helped guide me in the right direction for my future career decisions.

My connection with Oregon State Extension began long before this internship. I participated in 4-H for many years, and those experiences helped shape who I am today. Through 4-H, I developed leadership skills, learned responsibility, built lasting friendships and gained confidence by trying new things and making connections with so many people within my community. Because of the positive experiences I had as a 4-H member in Douglas County, it is very rewarding to now be on the other side of the program as an intern in my home county. I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to learning, growing and helping make this a successful summer for the youth and families of Douglas County.

Hi there everyone! My name is Makena Oglesby, and I am interning at the Clatsop County OSU Extension office this summer. I’ve had fun the first few weeks, and I’m excited to share my experiences with you through these blog posts over the summer!

Makena Oglesby poses with a display of some of her woodworking projects, including fish shaped cutting boards, coasters and magnets. Photo: Monique Council

During the school year, I study wood innovation for sustainability and have a focus on art & design at Oregon State University (this is a fancy way to say that I do woodworking). My major focuses a lot on wood science which I then get to apply to woodworking projects, both functional and artistic pieces. My favorite combination is when I get to make something beautiful or fun that is still fully functional, which you can see some examples of in the photo above. I am still exploring what I want to do once I graduate (at the end of fall term!) but I have thoroughly enjoyed my time so far in the OSU Extension office, and before that for about 4 years in Special Events for the Parks and Recreation Department in Hillsboro, Oregon. The work I did there is very similar to what I get to do this summer, and I have always enjoyed it so I could see myself continuing a career in the Extension Service realm after graduation (with perhaps some woodworking thrown in for fun).

I am typically located in Hillsboro, but this summer I have the opportunity to stay with my great grandmother as I work at the OSU Extension office in Astoria. I am excited to spend time with her as I work at the office and around the county this summer. As I am an intern under the Master Food Preservers coordinator at the Clatsop County OSU Extension office, I do a lot of work with all of the programs that we house including the Master Gardeners and Small Farms, 4-H and Oregon Sea Grant programs.

One thing I have already had a lot of fun doing is helping out at Seafood Tours on docks along the Oregon coast. The tours are free and open to the public and help teach people about Oregon ports, the daily lives of fisherman and how to buy seafood directly off of fishing vessels. It has been so interesting to listen to the tours as I help put them on, and make them enjoyable and memorable for the attendees. I may not be studying marine life, but it is a hobby of mine and something I love to learn about!

I am looking forward to the rest of my summer with everyone at the OSU Extension office in Astoria, and I am so excited to be involved in all of the events and programing we have planned!

More of Makena’s creative masterpieces: Makena’s Portfolio

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.

Jack Sparks, intern in Polk County. Photo: Sarah LaDuke

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.

Hello! My name is Aspen Bowling, and I am currently in week five of my summer internship with the OSU Extension Service in Clatsop County. This fall, I will be entering my fourth year at Oregon State University, where I am pursuing a degree in agricultural science with a minor in agricultural and natural resource communications. This is my second summer interning with OSU Extension, and returning has given me the opportunity to continue building on the experiences and skills I gained last year.

Aspen holds up an Oregon State University pennant; Go Beavs! Photo: Cayden Pricolo

One of the most valuable parts of this internship has been seeing the broad scope of OSU Extension and learning how many different programs work together to serve our communities. Before joining OSU Extension, I knew very little about everything it offered. Over the past two summers, I have had the opportunity to work with programs such as 4-H Youth Development, Master Gardener, Small Farms and Oregon Sea Grant. Each program has a unique mission, but they all share the common goal of providing research– based education and resources that improve the lives of Oregonians.

Throughout the internship, I have been able to take part in many hands– on experiences that have helped me better understand OSU Extension’s impact. I have participated in dock walks with Oregon Sea Grant, where we educated the public about seafood and commercial fishing industries. I have been able to represent Extension at local farmers’ markets, helping answer questions about soil and connect community members with available programs and resources. I have also volunteered at local food pantries through the Family and Community Health program, where we helped distribute healthy food information and educational materials to families. I have also had the opportunity to help with several youth activities through 4-H, which has been one of my favorite parts of the summer.

Aspen asks questions to a cloverbud participant regarding her home economics project. Photo: Alisabeth Ogier

One of the highlights of my internship so far was serving as a judge for the 4-H Home Economics Skills Contest. It was inspiring to watch the youth demonstrate their knowledge, creativity and confidence while showcasing the skills they have developed through 4-H. Seeing the pride they took in their work reminded me of the positive impact Extension programs have on young people and how these experiences help build lifelong skills. It was rewarding to play a small role in encouraging and recognizing their hard work.

Returning for a second summer has also allowed me to strengthen my skills in social media management, graphic design, photography, educational outreach and communication. As I prepare to enter my fourth year of college, this internship has reinforced my passion for agriculture, communications and community education. It has shown me how OSU Extension connects university research with local communities while creating opportunities for people of all ages to learn and grow. I am grateful to continue learning from the dedicated faculty, staff, volunteers and community partners in Clatsop County, and I look forward to making the most of the rest of my internship.

Hello all,
My name is Armando Peters, and I’m proud to be Yamhill County’s 4-H student intern! I am originally from Austin, Texas, but moved to McMinnville, Oregon in 2024 with my family to attend Oregon State University. Currently, I’m going into my third year as an animal science major on the pre-veterinary pathway, with a minor in chemistry. My career goals are to work more with animals, gain experience and eventually attend Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at OSU.

Armando Peters giving a student their t-shirt bag at the 2026 4-H Summer Conference. Photo: KayLani Cruz

Even though I grew up in Texas, I was never heavily involved with 4-H or Extension Services but I was always curious about what exactly they do. So far, I’ve greatly enjoyed learning about the services my office provides, and just how much work Extension does to keep our local communities running. Being here means a lot to me because I feel privileged to help residents of Yamhill County while also learning much more about 4-H, gardening, food preservation and fair planning (just to name a few). I love working here because it blends my interest in animals and agriculture with university programs. It’s a great combination that helps more people and kids get hands-on experience with farming, which is awesome to see. I even got to attend the Oregon 4-H Summer Conference with my supervisor and help the first day.

By the end of summer, I hope to gain more familiarity working with 4-H youth, practice event planning/management and improve my professional communication skills. As of writing, our county fair is only two weeks away, and our office has been busy with fair prep, which has given me a new perspective on what it takes to coordinate and run such a large event every single year! While I know fair week will likely be intense, I’m excited to see what it’s like behind the scenes and do my part to keep everything running smoothly. Beyond the fair, I’m happy to be working here and can’t wait to see what new experiences the rest of the summer has to offer!

Hello everyone!

My name is Brooke Parker, and I am headed into my final year of undergrad at OSU E-Campus. I am a business administration student, minoring both in writing as well as agricultural/ natural resource communications. This summer, I get the amazing privilege of interning with the Deschutes County 4-H team at their OSU Extension office.

I am currently in my 6th week of this internship, where my main project has been the creation of a procedure/ guidebook of all the major tasks leading up to and including both the Deschutes County Fair and the Deschutes County Horse Fair. The goal of this project is to create a consolidated resource of information about exactly what needs to happen every year to make both fairs a success! This can include writing tasks down as small as checking the water faucets in the animal barns for leaks, or as big as hiring judges and ensuring their contracts and pay information is accurate (and what general accounts would typically pay for that process). It is a huge task, but I am very excited to see how it all comes together by the end of week 10.

Brooke smiles with the Deschutes County Horse Fair preparation supplies in the office conference room. Photo: Brooke Parker

Brooke and the horse that she borrowed for showmanship at the local horse fair. Brooke notes that “he was very well behaved for my first time trying this.” Photo: Holly Hansen

Last week was the 2026 Horse Fair in Deschutes County, so after lots of busy preparation, it was fun to see the horse fair come together and watch the horse 4-H’ers have a good time with their projects.

One of the most exciting parts of this past week, aside from helping set up for the horse fair, was the opportunity to participate in it with the adult showmanship competition that was hosted last Friday night. The Horse 4-H judging team created a short, easy pattern for us to follow and memorize. The adults participating had to find horses to borrow from 4-H’ers, and some participants even wore costumes to the class which was pretty hilarious. Most notably, one person wore an inflatable cow suit, someone else wore a ghillie suit, and then one of the 4-H dads showed his Corgi in the horse pattern; they all got lots of laughs. Though I’ve spent my whole life around horses, in the three-day-eventing scene I knew almost nothing about horse showmanship, making this a cool learning experience.

A huge thank-you to Morgan Henson, who has been supervising me throughout this process, as well as the rest of the Deschutes 4-H team!

Hello! My name is Evelyn Schecter and I am the Oregon State University Extension Service intern for Wasco County, Oregon. I have just graduated high school and I am going to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for biomedical engineering in the fall. Throughout college, I hope to find the path within biomedical engineering that most interests me and then pursue it after I graduate. In the past, I participated in many 4-H camps, and I have worked as a 4-H STEM Teen Leader for the past three years. This involved helping out by running summer camps and afterschool clubs, along with coaching VEX IQ robotics at The Dalles middle school. This past experience is what inspired me to apply and become an intern for OSU Extension.

Evelyn Schecter sporting her college merchandise for South Dakota School of Mines on Decision Day. Photo: Varina Schecter

As an intern this summer, I will continue to help lead and plan summer camps for 4-H youth, and in August, I will help at the Wasco County Fair. So far this summer, I have helped lead many STEM camps, including Intro to 3D Printing, Game Maker, Sphero Coding, and Introduction to Vex IQ Robotics. I have also led a group at our archery camp and helped lead a few local hikes. These camps are meant to be an opportunity for youth in Wasco County to discover new interests and have fun while learning something new! For me, leading these camps allows me to partake in the community and help spread educational opportunities. Through my role as an intern, I am able to give back to the community through activities that I am extremely grateful were available when I was a 4-H member.

Bill and Evelyn from Wasco County instructing the archery line at their week long archery camp. Photo: Susan McCourt

In the second half of my internship I will continue leading more summer camps and will also be helping Susan McCourt with an Invention Convention teacher training. The purpose of this training is to spread knowledge of the Invention Convention (IC) to possible schools and teachers that will then be able to support it in their classrooms. While IC has been around for 43 years, it is just now being brought to Oregon, and I am super excited to be a part of spreading it throughout the state. I am also excited for this August as I will be helping out with the Wasco County Fair and 4-H program through planning and logistics, and offering service through tabling.

I am very grateful for what I have been able to do so far, and I am looking forward to whatever comes next!

Hi everyone!

My name is Madeline Breiling, and this is my fourth year working with OSU Extension in Umatilla County, but my first year serving as a 4-H intern. I recently graduated from the College of Charleston in South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, astronomy and data science. This fall, I will be returning to the College of Charleston to pursue a master’s degree in mathematics with a concentration in statistics. I am excited to be back in Pendleton for another summer serving the community through OSU Extension!

Hermiston summer school students working on building a paper stomp rocket. Photo: Madeline Breiling

I am now in the seventh week of my internship. This summer, my primary focus has been reaching nontraditional 4-H audiences by providing STEM education opportunities to students who may not otherwise have access to them. STEM programming is an area with significant need in Umatilla County, and I have been grateful for the opportunity to combine my passion for STEM education with community service by developing my own STEM curriculum, creating lesson plans and teaching hands-on activities.

Featuring an afterschool program art project from students at the YMCA who followed a binary algorithm. Photo: Madeline Breiling

To start my internship, I worked with the YMCA elementary after-school program in Milton-Freewater, where I taught unplugged computer science lessons. These activities focused on building foundational computational thinking skills, including following algorithms, communicating clearly and developing creative problem-solving strategies. I also taught lessons in physics and engineering that encouraged students to take the lead in the scientific process through experimentation, allowing their creativity and curiosity to guide their learning.

Over the past two weeks, I have also been teaching an aerospace engineering unit to fourth- and fifth-grade students at Hermiston summer school. The unit concluded with students working in teams to design and build stomp rockets using paper and tape before testing them outside. After their initial launch, students developed a hypothesis about a design change that might improve their rocket’s performance, modified their rockets and launched them again to test their ideas. It was exciting to watch them apply the engineering design process while learning through experimentation.

For the remainder of the summer, I will be leading a STEM activity at Camp Cloverbud and teaching STEM lessons for the YMCA summer camp in Milton-Freewater. I am looking forward to the opportunities still ahead. It has been incredibly rewarding to see students become excited about STEM, especially since many of them have limited opportunities to participate in hands-on STEM learning during the school year. Seeing their curiosity and confidence grow has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my internship.

My name is Karyna Marquez, and I am excited to be serving as the Hood River County 4-H Intern this summer. I am a Hood River County native and a freshman at Oklahoma State University, where I am majoring in agricultural communications and earning a certificate in meat science. Growing up in Hood River County, 4-H played a major role in my life and helped shape who I am today.

Karyna Marquez promotes the livestock industry during her senior photo session. Photo: Hannah Muhlbeier

My journey in 4-H began when I was a Cloverbud and continued throughout my youth as I became involved in livestock projects. Over the years, I showed large livestock competitively throughout the Pacific Northwest and developed a passion for the agriculture industry and youth development. Through my experiences in 4-H, I gained valuable skills in leadership, responsibility, communication and public speaking that continue to benefit me today.

Because of the positive impact 4-H had on my life, I am excited to return to the program in a new role this summer. As the Hood River County 4-H Intern, I will be assisting with outreach, programming and county fair activities. This internship provides an opportunity to give back to the program that gave me so much while also gaining professional experience in Extension. My career goal is to work in agricultural communications, whether that be for an agriculture communications company or within the communications department of a larger agriculture organization. Through this internship, I hope to strengthen my communication skills, learn more about community outreach and gain a better understanding of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into Extension programming and events. I am also excited to learn more about event planning, social media outreach and the many ways Extension serves local communities.

One thing I am especially looking forward to this summer is helping with county fair activities. Fair week was always one of my favorite parts of 4-H and I am excited to experience it from a new perspective. I also hope to work on outreach projects, assist with youth programming and help create resources that support local 4-H members and families. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend the summer with Hood River County Extension and eager to learn, grow and give back to a program that has had such a meaningful impact on my life.

Hello everyone! My name is Shylee Davis, and I am an intern with the OSU Extension Service in Harney County. As local as it gets, I am a born and raised cattle rancher with a passion for the agriculture industry. Growing up around livestock, I quickly discovered that working with animals was where I belonged. This fall, I will be attending Central Oregon Community College to study health sciences before transferring into a veterinary technician program.

Shylee Davis smiles for a senior photo with her horse. Photo: Brooke Joyce

My involvement with Extension coincides with my involvement in 4-H, which started when I was in the fourth grade through my participation in swine projects and dog training. Because 4-H has played such an important role in my life, I was excited for the opportunity to work with the Extension Service and gain a behind-the-scenes perspective of the program that helped shape me. 4-H has taught me countless valuable life skills including responsibility, leadership and confidence. One of the best parts of this internship has been working alongside an amazing team while continuing to grow my passion for animal science and youth development. Throughout this summer, I have had the opportunity to assist with a wide variety of projects. I began by helping design and paint waves on the Harney County Historical Society’s Fourth of July float; Crossing of the Delaware. I have also helped set up livestock panels at the fairgrounds in preparation for the county fair in September. Aside from these activities, most of my time has been spent in the Extension office where I have worked on many different projects. Through Canva, I have designed buttons and T-shirts for our 4-H Day Camp, held July 13-16. More recently, I have been organizing office storage areas and sorting through historical records and books.

As the summer continues, I will be helping prepare for the Harney County Fair. I am especially excited about helping with fair preparations because, although I have spent many years exhibiting livestock, this internship has given me the opportunity to experience everything that happens behind the scenes. I have a new appreciation for the planning, teamwork and dedication required to make the fair a success.

Balancing this internship with my own market and breeding livestock projects through FFA has been both challenging and rewarding. It has strengthened my time management skills and allowed me to experience the fair process from both the exhibitor and organizer’s perspectives. This internship has been an incredible learning experience and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to give back to the program that has given so much to me. I look forward to continuing to learn, serve my community and help make this year’s Harney County Fair a great success.

OSU Extension Internship Program

Category Archives: 4-H

OSU Extension intern shares the path from 4-H member to mentor

OSU Extension intern brings creativity and curiosity to Clatsop County

OSU Extension intern turns 4-H experience into opportunities for others

OSU Extension intern connects passions for animals, science and community service

OSU Extension intern documents the fair from behind the scenes and in the arena

OSU Extension intern engineers opportunities for youth in STEM

OSU Extension intern inspires the next generation through educational STEM programming

OSU Extension intern returns to the 4-H program to serve and support in a new role

OSU Extension intern goes behind the scenes to give back to her community

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