4-H « OSU Extension Internship Program

Hey everyone! If you don’t remember me from my last blog post, my name is Shylee Davis, and I am interning with OSU Extension in Harney County. Since my last blog post, a lot has happened! One of the biggest things was our day camp. This year, our day camp was called Dirt to Dinner, where kids ages 5 to 11 were taught where their food comes from and how it gets from the farm to their plate.

Shylee smiles with her steer that she will be showing at the 2026 Harney County Fair in September. Photo: Nikylee Davis

We kicked off the camp by bringing in local producers from the farmer’s market. They explained where and how the items sold at a farmer’s market are produced and what kinds of products you can find there. The kids then learned about chickens and goats from another local producer, including the different breeds that are raised for meat and may eventually end up on their dinner plate.

The next part of our Dirt to Dinner journey focused on the kids learning about growing plants. We had an agriculture teacher come in and teach them about germination and how to properly plant seeds. The kids were able to pot peas and marigolds to take home with them. After that, they learned about the ruminant stomach from our very own Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center. They brought in a cannulated steer, which has an opening into its rumen that allows people to observe what cattle eat and how their food is digested. The kids were able to safely put their hands into the rumen and feel what the steer had been eating. It was definitely an experience they will remember!

The bee display from the Harney County Dirt to Dinner day camp. Photo: Shylee Davis

On the third day, we had a local honeybee producer come in and teach the kids about bees and microgreens. She brought a special display that allowed the kids to see the bees up close without being stung. The kids observed many interesting things, from spotting drone bees, which are male bees, to even watching a baby bee hatch. After learning about bees, the kids got to start their own microgreens and learned what microgreens are and how they are grown. Later that day, our Junior Leaders (members of a 4-H club focused on leadership) each gave an educational presentation to the kids on a topic of their choosing. It was great to see them take what they have learned through 4-H and share their knowledge with younger kids.

We finished our week with Autumn, our 4-H Coordinator, teaching the kids about different types of soil and showing them how to ribbon soil to determine its texture. Later, we had someone bring in a milking sheep, allowing the kids to try milking and learn more about where milk comes from. At the same time, Boer goats made an appearance to teach the campers about their purpose in agriculture. We ended the camp with frozen yogurt and a water fight, which was a pretty great way to finish four busy days of learning!

After day camp, I was busy with fair preparations, including creating social media posts and helping put together our new fair office. Unfortunately, the fires then affected my family and our cattle, which meant that things had to slow down for a little while. I am now back in the office and right back to working on preparations for our County Fair, which will be held September 8th–12th.

Looking back on my internship, I have learned so much about what goes on behind the scenes to make programs and events happen. From working with kids at day camp to helping prepare for the county fair, I have been able to experience many different sides of Extension and agriculture. I am grateful for all of the opportunities I have had and for everyone who has helped make this internship such a great experience. Thank you for following along with me through my internship! Until next time!

Hello again!

This summer, I have had the privilege of interning with the OSU Extension Service in Douglas County. Since my last blog post, we have been busy preparing for the fair and making sure that everything ran smoothly throughout the week!

Photo of preparation for static exhibit pick up day at the Douglas County fair. Photo: Makaela Carter

For the past several weeks, I have been working out of the fairgrounds to help get everything ready for fair week. From putting together materials for each species exhibited at the fair to setting up spaces for our 4-H Static Exhibit Day, I have been involved in many of the behind-the-scenes tasks that go into preparing for the fair.

Once fair arrived, I helped check 4-H members’ record books, staff the 4-H office at the fairgrounds, run supplies between barns and assist with anything else that was needed. Every day of this internship has brought a new adventure and a new opportunity to learn. Being able to see the direct impact that 4-H has on kids has been one of the most rewarding parts of this internship.

A few weeks ago, I also had the opportunity to judge the Cloverbud 4-H exhibitors and learn more about their static projects. Although Cloverbud projects are judged on participation rather than competition, I had a great time interacting directly with the kids and seeing the amazing projects they had worked so hard on. From LEGO structures to quilts to floral arrangements, I was so impressed by the creativity and effort that each Cloverbud member put into their project.

As my internship comes to a close, I have been reflecting on what a great summer it has been! I have had so many opportunities to gain hands-on experience, develop new skills and see the impact that 4-H has on our community. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to spend my summer giving back to my home county and being part of such a meaningful program. I can’t wait to take the skills and experiences I have gained this summer into my future career. Thank you to the Douglas County staff for making this such a memorable and rewarding summer!

Hello again!

Just in case you didn’t already read my first blog post (linked here), I’ll go ahead and re-introduce myself. My name is Brooke Parker, and this summer I have had the opportunity to intern with Deschutes County 4-H at their OSU Extension office. I am headed into my final year of undergrad at OSU E-Campus, studying business administration, with double minors in writing as well as agricultural communications.

My main roles in this internship so far have been to support Deschutes County’s horse fair and general fair. I have also been working on creating a task sheet to document everything that happens every year to make the fairs successful.

Brooke’s first round of rabbit showmanship she judged. Brooke notes that the student on the left is answering a question that she asked her, and “the one on the right is doing an excellent job remaining attentive, while also managing her rabbit and ensuring it didn’t try to hop off. (The rabbit had grown impatient of sitting by this point in the long show day).” Photo: Stephanie Parker

During the fair, which happened two weeks ago, my role consisted of little supporting errands such as brining requested items to the superintendents, or helping set up our 4-H ice cream booth.

Brooke asking questions to one of the rabbit showmen. Photo: Stephanie Parker

Apart from that, my major daily responsibility during the fair was to judge herdsmanship in the swine and beef barns. Herdsmanship is a competition where 4-H members are graded on the appearance and quality within three categories: members’ presence, the animals, and their area as well as common areas near their club. It was fun to walk through the barns every day and catch glimpses of 4-H’ers getting ready for shows and taking care of their animals.

My main project was raising and breeding rabbits when I used to do 4-H. Knowing this, my supervisor, Morgan, offered me the opportunity to judge the rabbit master showmanship. At first, I was concerned that I might not remember enough about rabbits to judge well. I borrowed a rabbit 4-H handbook and all the information came right back to me. I feel like that goes to show how much the 4-H program can leave a lasting impression, that I remembered almost everything, even after years away from the environment.

I had fun interacting with all the Champion and Reserve Champion small animal showmen. It was likely many of the students first time showing a rabbit (for those who typically showed other species). I was pleased to shake their hands after each round and congratulate them on the hard work that had gotten them there.

In these final two weeks of my internship, I plan to wrap up the task sheet. My goal is to create a useful resource for 4-H staff in future years, that will help operations to be more efficient and reduce the mental load of organizing the fair each year.

Once again, a big thank you to Morgan Henson, my supervisor for this internship, and to the rest of the 4-H staff, as well as all of our wonderful superintendents and volunteers. And a big congratulations to all of the 2026 Deschutes County Fair exhibitors for finishing out another year!

Hi again! It’s Evelyn, the OSU Extension intern from Wasco County, Oregon. This has been an amazing summer, and I have learned a lot. Now that all of our 4-H summer camps have finished, I can recap everything I learned. To make the camps run smoothly, we have to ensure we have enough supplies for every student, from building materials to working computers, to snacks and water bottles. I also learned that even if you spend days updating computers in June, Windows will still require major updates in July that unfortunately must be installed for the computers to run. While working with Susan McCourt on our Invention Convention (IC) teacher training, I have learned what IC will look like in Oregon in the future. Additionally, I facilitated my first Zoom meeting, which took a lot of troubleshooting to set up, but it was a huge success! I have learned a lot about Zoom, and I feel quite prepared if I am needed to run another meeting again.

One big struggle I faced this year was at one of our later summer camps. We were running our camp at one of our local elementary schools, and a lot of our computers were unable to connect to the internet. After sorting through the twenty-one computers I had, I was able to connect twelve to the internet. We had a 16-student camp starting in 30 minutes and were prepared to pair up students to ensure everyone could learn. We then had many students go to the wrong location due to a mislabeled email months back, but by the time the camp started, we had twelve students show up. Luckily, we had enough computers, and the rest of the day went smoothly. I learned a great deal about organization and adapting when encountering challenges to achieve success amidst struggles.

Students at the 3D Printing Camp testing their boat designs in a tub of water. Photo: Cameron Deitz-Fuller

This past week I have been helping Leah Ashley plan the Wasco County Fair. This involved doing odd jobs around the office. I made judging cards for livestock and small animals, and then dove into sorting the champion banners into their respective categories. This part of the fair is actually quite exciting because I get to see what the 4-H office team does before the fair starts. During the fair, I will be helping run the STEM activities: robotics, duct-tape projects and popsicle-stick catapults [due to the Grasshopper Fire, the Wasco County Fair has been canceled, placing all fair activities on hold].

Now that my internship is almost over (August 14th is my last day), I can share what I have generally learned this summer. Besides learning how to run the 4-H camps and the fair, I have learned how to solve problems with limited instructions, which is a very useful skill. Also, all the knowledge I gained about STEM and the Wasco County Fair will help me as I pursue a career in engineering.

I would like to thank the entire Wasco County OSU Extension office for making my internship a very enjoyable experience. I would also like to thank Susan McCourt, whom I worked alongside during my internship. It has been a pleasure to hear about all of the other interns’ stories, and I hope everyone has an amazing year!

As my internship with Hood River County Extension comes to an end, it is hard to believe how much I have learned in such a short amount of time. Looking back on this summer, one of the biggest highlights was helping with the Hood River County Fair. I knew fair week would be busy, but I did not realize just how much work goes on behind the scenes to make everything come together. Seeing months of planning become a successful event for our 4-H members and community was an incredibly rewarding experience.

Karyna Marquez poses with the Grand Champion Sheep Showmen of the Hood River County Fair.

Throughout fair week, I helped wherever I was needed. Every day looked a little
different, whether I was assisting with livestock activities, answering questions, helping with events, or supporting Extension staff behind the scenes. One of my favorite parts of the internship was getting to experience so many different aspects of Extension work. Being willing to jump in wherever help was needed taught me how important flexibility and teamwork are. There were plenty of moments when plans changed or unexpected situations came up, but everyone worked together to make sure the fair was successful.

Karyna (right) smiles after working hard photographing and assisting with buyer paperwork at the Hood River County Youth Livestock Auction.

One of the biggest things I will take away from this internship is the confidence I have gained. Since I grew up in Hood River County 4-H, many of the volunteers, parents, and community members have known me for years as an exhibitor. This summer, I stepped into a different role. Instead of being the kid showing livestock, I was working alongside those same adults as an Extension intern, helping answer questions, support events, and assist wherever I could. At first, it felt a little strange navigating that change, but over time I became more confident in myself and my abilities. Learning to contribute as a coworker instead of just a participant showed me how much I have grown, both personally and professionally.

Working under my supervisor, Grace Wesson, gave me a behind-the-scenes look at everything that goes into Extension programming and the county fair. I learned that successful events require organization, communication, teamwork, and the ability to adapt when things do not go exactly as planned. Those are skills I know I will carry with me throughout college and into my future career in agricultural communications.

As I finish this internship, I am grateful for everything I have learned and everyone who invested in me along the way. If I could give one piece of advice to future interns, it would be to say yes to every opportunity. Some of the most valuable experiences came from stepping outside my comfort zone and taking on tasks I had never done before. You never know what you will learn or who you will meet. This internship has strengthened my confidence, expanded my perspective, and reinforced my passion for serving the agricultural community, and I am excited to carry these experiences with me into the future.

Hi! I’m Natasha Lane, the Summer Intern for OSU Extension in Union County! As an incoming sophomore studying plant science-crop science and sustainable food & bioenergy-crop production with a minor in precision agriculture & land management systems, I aim to become the owner/operator of the diversified crop farm that I grew up on here in Union County. Following my past experience as a 4-Her, especially as a 4-H Ambassador, I had been exposed to Extension and decided to pursue this internship with the intent of being able to give back to 4-H and learn about the behind-the-scenes of Extension as well as its different branches.

OSU Extension intern, Natasha Lane, driving the Alfalfa Omega SP-SW 125 during the forage trails. Photo: Darrin Walenta

In June, I was able to assist with the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, which encompasses multiple counties and allowed me to work and connect with the other 4-H program coordinators across Oregon. Some of my responsibilities during the Stock Show included managing the 4-H office window, assisting the photographer during market shows, preparing for the shows and awards ceremony, running errands, and staffing the OSU Extension office.

I also helped our Agronomist and Assistant Professor of Practice with forage trials— collecting dry and wet samples of the forage as well as being able to drive the Alfalfa Omega SP-SW 125. I also helped with the annual Union County Crop Tour, during which I managed bus attendance. On the tour, the public and I were driven around the county and stopped at three diverse locations where we learned about different agricultural operations near us. I enjoyed being a part of the Crop Tour and seeing how it helped bridge the gap between producers and consumers.

Natasha judging the Pee Wee swine showmanship contest during the Union County Fair. Photo: Carrie Lane

The last few events that I was able to be a part of, Tri-County 4-H Camp and Union County Fair, were some of my favorites. At camp I assisted with check-ins, chaperoned a trip to the water park, and helped co-teach a workshop on ice cream making. I love working with kids and seeing the campers have a great time was truly a rewarding experience. Similarly, I was able to get involved with helping 4-H youth at the fair from clerking the dog show to clerking the livestock shows. It really became a full-circle moment for me as I was also able to act as a judge for the All-Around Showman and Pee Wee Show for swine, something I competed in when I was a 4-Her!

As my summer ends, I have been able to reflect on all the valuable lessons and skills being an intern has taught me that goes beyond just Extension. Volunteers are truly the backbone of so many of our youth programs and it truly is a thankless job. I worked my hardest to be an asset to them because they deserve all thanks and praise for making 4-H such a successful program. Additionally, I have been exposed to research projects that I didn’t know existed and I can’t wait to return to school with a revamped passion for learning and discovery. Lastly, all the men and women I have worked with this summer are such impressive people and being allowed to be a part of their team has truly been something special, so I would like to thank Karie Kelley, Honour Bowen, Shelby Benson, Darrin Walenta and Grace Dudek for letting me be a part of their whirlwind of a summer!

Hi! I’m Emma Branson, the intern for OSU Extension in Lane County. I’m a sophomore at the University of Oregon majoring in environmental science with a minor in secondary educational foundations. My career goal is to guide environmental education by connecting communities to the land beyond classroom walls, especially for youth and agriculture. I hope to be a high school agriculture science teacher, but I am exploring all aspects of this industry! Growing up, I participated in Lane County 4-H for 13 years showing goats, small animals, horticulture, communications, family consumer sciences and more. These urban agricultural experiences with OSU Extension motivated me to intern with them in Lane County.

Emma smiles with a sweet treat after the Lane County 4-H & FFA Fair statics judging day. Photo: Joaquin Yoos

This summer, I hope to learn management styles and communication skills for leading Extension programs. In my first month of this internship, I led youth cooking classes for a summer camp at a local urban farm! I practiced teaching knife skills, food safety, measurements and basic nutrition to 4th grade students in an outdoor kitchen. This program built my confidence in event planning through preparation, attention to detail and communication, as well as gaining practical teaching experience. Additionally, I supported staff at the Lane County 4-H & FFA Fair by communicating directly with the youth, families and volunteers to ensure everyone had a positive learning experience. I’m grateful for the guidance from my mentors and the opportunity to independently strengthen my skills.

Moving forward, I’m ready to collaborate with more Extension programs offered in Lane County! I’m excited to complete my Master Food Preserver certification, help with Forestry community outreach, and join in on Small Farms projects. I plan to continue making the most of my internship by working hard and having fun!

Hello again!

My name is Madeline Breiling, and I am now in my last full week as the 4-H intern for OSU Extension in Umatilla County. Throughout my internship this summer, I have had the chance to assist with and take the lead on a wide variety of projects across Umatilla County. Before this summer, I had little involvement with 4-H, and I’ve been so impressed by the sportsmanship, enthusiasm and dedication the youth have demonstrated throughout all of the 4-H events I’ve assisted with.

Students attending the Milton-Freewater YMCA summer camp submerge their designed boats to see how many pennies their boats can hold. Photo: Madeline Breiling

This summer, I have had the opportunity to assist with Umatilla County’s “Pre-Fair” contests, including Fashion Revue, Public Speaking, Cooking and the 4-H Dog Show. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time at each of these events. Since I have less experience with the livestock and home economics side of 4-H, it was exciting to learn by watching the contests, illustrated talks and demonstrations, as well as talking with competitors, 4-H Ambassadors, superintendents, volunteers and judges. In a time when so many people are glued to their devices, it was refreshing to see young people so passionate and knowledgeable about sewing, cooking, caring for livestock and confidently sharing their skills and interests with others.

Madeline Brieling snaps a photo of the students at the Milton-Freewater YMCA summer camp experimenting with STEM boat designs. Photo: Madeline Breiling

My main focus this summer has been providing hands-on STEM opportunities to nontraditional 4-H audiences. Earlier in my internship, I taught STEM lessons at the YMCA after-school program in Milton-Freewater and at the Hermiston summer school. More recently, I led activities at Camp Cloverbud, where campers planted pumpkin seeds during a horticulture lesson and built straw rockets as part of a science activity. Throughout much of the summer, I have also been teaching STEM lessons for the YMCA summer camp in Milton-Freewater. Campers explored many different areas of STEM through hands-on activities, from creating and investigating Möbius strips as part of a mathematics activity to working in teams to design and build boats capable of holding as many pennies as possible without sinking during an engineering lesson. One of the most rewarding parts of my internship has been seeing students collaborate, test their ideas and improve their designs as well as gain more confidence and excitement about doing STEM activities.

This summer has flown by, and I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I have had with 4-H and OSU Extension this summer. My experiences over the past few months have allowed me to connect with and learn from the community while strengthening my skills and confidence in developing STEM curriculum and teaching. This internship has reinforced my passion for STEM education and community outreach, and I will carry these experiences with me as I begin teaching calculus as part of my master’s program this fall. I would like to thank Shevon Hatcher, Courtney Waliser, Jaime Chambers and all of the other Umatilla County OSU Extension employees who have made this summer so enjoyable. Thank you for your mentorship, encouragement and support throughout the summer.

Hey there!

My name is Zach Richards, and I am currently a college student majoring in mechanical engineering. Recently, I finished my freshman year, and I am now looking forward to the next. I work for the Marion County OSU Extension office, the same county that I grew up in my whole life. In the past, I have gone to a couple of Extension related programs/activities such as the county fair and outdoor camps. I’ve also worked with my local OSU Extension office to help organize a food drive that benefited local elementary school students. This summer, I get to take my experiences one step farther as the county intern.

Zach Richards in the current MakerSpace for Marion County. Photo: Zach Richards

Over the course of my internship, there are a number of skills that I look forward to developing. First, this internship will be a great environment to learn how to organize and lead workshops/events. A lot of what I know about 4-H stems from activities such as these, so it will be great to be on the organizational side helping out. I also look forward to developing my ability to communicate with my coworkers and stay on top of what needs to get done. Working with other offices outside of my county will definitely give me the chance to practice this skill. Additionally, I am looking forward to the fair and the completion of the “MakerSpace” set up (a creative space for artistic creation)! Both the fair and the MakerSpace will help showcase creativity and will be fun to be a part of.

Over my time here, I plan to help get the MakerSpace to a point where people can come in and use the machines. I think it would be awesome if kids could come and learn design concepts as well as express their creativity through projects. I know that as a kid I would have loved trying out a few of the devices and learning how to use them. In the future, I hope to take a career path related to engineering and design. I think that aerospace seems cool, but I have also given some thought to mechatronics. Through my experience here, I believe that I will be able to give others a chance to explore similar interests as well as develop my own.

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.

OSU Extension Internship Program

Category Archives: 4-H

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