Livestock « 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.

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.”

Hello, my name is Abigail Cape, and this is my second-year interning for Oregon State
University Extension Service Polk County Extension in Dallas, OR. I am going into my third year at
Oregon State University majoring in psychology. After I graduate, as of right now I am hoping to go to
graduate school to get my doctoral degree in counseling psychology. For my future career I hope to either
have a career as a counselor with a specialty in trauma or becoming a counselor for teens and young
adults, with a Christian backing. Along with studying psychology, I am also going into my third year in
the clarinet section of the Oregon State University Marching Band, this is an activity that I just started
doing while at Oregon State and I have learned and grown so much in. This is also an area both on and off
campus where I am constantly making new connections as well as new friends. My past experience with
Oregon State Extension primarily is being a member of 4-H for nine years, volunteering with 4-H
Extension for a year and my internship with Extension last year. I was also granted the opportunity to take
a class on Extension that is taught by Oregon State. Throughout my time in 4-H I showed rabbits, bred
and owned market rabbits, turkeys and bred and owned market turkeys, as well as various leadership
roles.

Students at the Polk County Jr. Master Gardeners Camp begin learning about floral arrangements. Photo: Abigail Cape

Over this summer I hope to continue to learn about the various aspects of behind the scenes work
that goes into 4-H and Extension. In my internship last year, I was able to learn so much and I am
eternally grateful to have this opportunity for the second year in a row. Last year I worked with multiple
different project groups that I had never worked with before in the pre-fair weeks of planning and
preparation, particularly with horses. I was also able to do projects that were closer to what I did as a 4-
H’er by conducting a small animal master showmanship class. This class was meant to teach youth the
basics of handling different animals that would be found in a small animal master showmanship class,
basic knowledge about those animals and other information about your show presence that can help you
stand out while showing. Throughout this summer I am excited to learn more about how to plan and run a
variety of classes with different topics. I will also have the opportunity to learn more about marketing for
the 4-H program, working with various fundraisers and senior scholarship/graduating senior related
promotions. I also will have the chance to work on a multitude of fair related tasks. Through my past
internship experience I have learned so much and I hope to continue to learn and grow this summer! I
have grown up with a deep love of 4-H, which was developed quite a bit here in Polk County, and I am so
excited to help the program grow in any way that I can!

Hi there! My name is Emily Killebrew! Next year at Western Oregon University, I will have
completed my business major, with a concentration in marketing and minors in
communications studies and English studies. I am exploring career options that may be
humanitarian, marketing and/or writing. This program will help me learn more about myself
and gain more experience in my passions, such as working with photos and sharing the
memories those photos contain. Finding the best photos that have perfect clarity is a value I
keep when posting on social media. After all, they say photos are worth more than a thousand
words.

Emily Killebrew snaps photos of the Marion County meat goat showmanship class at the Marion County Fair. Photo: Elvira Alvarez

I used to work with Jared Hibbard-Swanson and Emily Griffith at the Marion and Polk County
Food Share Youth Farm every Friday for the summer after my freshman year of high school. We
transformed a big pile of mulch with pitch forks into a mulch path between the south crop
beds, took care of and harvested the plants that grew on the farm and we made lunch out of
our harvest. Overall, it was fun and rewarding.

One of my main goals for this summer is to verbally communicate in a way that relays the
message intended for another person to receive. As an external thinker, I struggle to think
before I speak, use intentional words and get to the point. I would like for others not to be
offended by me on accident and for me to speak more professionally.

The Oregon State University Extension Service in Marion County is in need of county
awareness. This summer I will join events and projects that the Marion County Extension Office
Outreach Coordinators oversee. I will ask many questions about their work and how they
communicate, present and edit outreach style posts on the OSU Extension Service, Marion
County Facebook page and hopefully create an Instagram account to reach younger audiences
in hopes to increase public awareness overall.

So far, I have begun organizing the Marion County Box photo folder that has photos previously
taken by the Marion County Extension Service Staff. I traveled with Collins Bugingo to the Grass
Seed and Mint Grower Fields in the outskirts of Salem and into Silverton. And I have walked
around the warm, noisy livestock pens and the cool, calm Columbia Building tables at the
Marion County fair (as shown in the photo). Finally, I have begun posting on the Marion
County Facebook Page for the Marion County fair, and soon I will begin posting subjects related
to the outings I have been and will be a part of.

Thank you for taking me aboard. I am looking forward to getting to know the Marion County
staff and being a part of varied events this summer!

Hi everyone, my name is Heidi Moran! This will be my third summer as an intern for Oregon
State University Extension Service in Union County. I just finished my junior year at Eastern
Oregon University, where I am majoring in elementary education. I have been involved in 4-H
since I was in fourth grade and have really enjoyed working and helping at 4-H events that I
participated in when I was in 4-H. So far this summer I have worked at Eastern Oregon
Livestock Show and the Union County Crop Tour.

Heidi Moran at the Union County Crop Tour. Photo: Shelby Benson

At the beginning of my internship, I prepared and helped at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show
in Union, Oregon. To prepare for the show I prepared awards, made exhibitor packets and
brought everything to the Stock show grounds. During the show I helped by directing traffic
during weigh in, assisted with some of the livestock shows, took pictures and helped wherever
was needed. This was a great way to start my internship!

Another highlight of the summer was the 47th annual Crop Tour in Union County. During the
tour I helped by counting people on the buses, taking pictures and doing anything else that was
needed. I enjoyed learning more about the agriculture in Union County!
This has already been a great summer, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer has in
store for me!

Hello everyone!

I’m Daisy O’Hearn, and this summer has been an incredible journey for me as an intern with the Oregon State University Extension Service, focusing on their youth development program known as 4-H. This opportunity has not only helped me learn more about nonprofits but also showed me event planning and execution.

Daisy O'Hearn Lincoln County Fair with pig — Daisy O’Hearn at Lincoln County fair with a pig. Photo: Daisy O’Hearn

I was in the 4-H program for 10 years and that is how I learned about OSU Extension but now I know so much more about it. OSU Extension helps people in Oregon with community projects, youth programs (like 4-H), managing natural resources and much more. It provides knowledge and support to communities to help improve and support them.

Currently, I am a student at the University of Oregon, majoring in political science with minors in legal studies and nonprofit administration. Post-college, I hope to pursue a master’s degree in nonprofit management followed by attending law school. My passion for the nonprofit sector stems from a genuine enjoyment of this work and its meaningful impact on communities. My experience with OSU Extension has shown me that I want to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector.

Throughout my internship, I’ve been involved in many different tasks, with a significant focus on preparing for the Lincoln County Fair, which takes place over the 4th of July weekend. Leading up to the fair, I conducted a workshop aimed at equipping 4-H youth with the skills to clean and shear their sheep, ensuring they were well-prepared for showcasing their animals.

During the fair itself, I found myself immersed in various projects. I had the opportunity to assist judges during the fair, ensuring that competitions ran smoothly and participants were supported. I also worked at the OSU Extension booth, where I helped educate the public about the valuable services and resources available. Then working at the 4-H market allowed me to engage directly with community members and show the achievements of 4-H youth. Throughout these experiences, I was always ready to contribute wherever I was needed.

This marks my second year as an intern with the OSU Extension Service, and this summer, my goal is to hone my fundraising skills and deepen my knowledge of the nonprofit world. Being part of the 4-H program and the OSU Extension Service has been incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about learning event planning or improving my knowledge of the nonprofit world; it’s about making a real difference in the lives of people in my community. As I continue my internship, I look forward to the opportunities and experiences that come with it.

Two young girls in helmets, sitting on brown horses, show off their blue ribbons behind a sign saying Clackamas County Fair 2023. — Blue ribbon winners at the Clackamas County Horse Fair.
Photo credit: Brekkan Richardson

Hello everyone! My name is Brekkan Richardson and I have the amazing opportunity of working with Clackamas County 4-H as an intern this summer! Though this position brings many new connections and responsibilities, it also brings an air of familiarity. As a former 4-H member in Clackamas County myself, I entered this internship with a slight sense of confidence. My reasoning was that even if I had to watch some YouTube videos to help me unlock the secrets of a copy machine – at the end of the day, I knew what to expect when fair time rolled around. That is until the time finally came for me to provide on-site support. This support wasn’t during swine weigh-in, beef showmanship, or even small-animal health checks but a couple weeks before these events at the Clackamas County Horse Fair. Due to the size and scheduling demands of the Clackamas County Horse Program, the horse fair happens on a separate week from the remainder of the county fair. As a 4-H member, I happily explored the other project areas at the fair. Due to the nature of scheduling, Horse 4-H had not crossed my path often. The opportunity to learn more had come around even less.

Despite my lack of equine experience, I remained confident I could navigate this unfamiliar fair with only mild confusion. This expectation proved unreasonable. Although the county and horse fair exhibitors shared their passion for their projects, the projects themselves held many differences. Having quickly discovered this, I decided to use my time at the horse fair to learn as much as possible.

Fortunately, the 4-H members seemed just as happy to answer questions as I was to ask them. On the first day on site, I was informed of the most prominent difference between most animal projects and the horse program. While most animal projects are centered around the production premise, the horse program instead follows an animal whose purpose is to perform. The differences don’t stop there, as some young 4-H members inform me later in the week. Where sheep showpeople show with a required level of physical contact, horse showmanship requires members to orchestrate their horse’s movements by halter alone. Where typically each animal enters the show ring a couple times during the fair, the horse fair has many more opportunities for members to engage in various unique competitions.

Through each class, show and barn walk-through, the 4-H members of Clackamas County happily and confidently showed off their hard work and talent. I look forward to learning more from 4-H members across Clackamas County. I hope to continue encouraging members to ask questions from our youth.

Two women standing and smiling at the camera. — Daisy O’Hearn (left) and M’Kenzie Kirchner assisting in the small animal weigh-in at the Lincoln County fair.
Photo credit: Amarion Akinsanya

Hello!

My name is Daisy O’Hearn, and this summer, I had the opportunity to serve as an intern for the Oregon State University Extension Service. I worked specifically with the youth development program called 4-H. This experience gave me a deep understanding of the nonprofit sector, exposing me to various aspects of event planning and execution. This internship allowed me to witness firsthand the profound impact of the 4-H program on youth in Newport, Oregon.

A woman places her hands around a rabbit on a table. — Daisy O’Hearn provides guidance to young individuals on the proper techniques for caring for their animals.
Photo credit: Traci O’Hearn

Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to engage in many tasks and contribute to various areas. I had the privilege of crafting and organizing engaging and tailored workshops to nurture the diverse talents and interests of young participants. The process of designing these workshops taught me the importance of adaptability, clear communication and empathy in fostering an inclusive learning environment. Within the array of clinics I developed, several were dedicated to illuminating the core of 4-H and exploring the diverse opportunities within the organization.

A woman shears a sheep. — Daisy O’Hearn hosting a clinic teaching Lincoln County 4-H youth about fair readiness and shearing techniques.
Photo credit: Amarion Akinsanya

One of the most exhilarating parts of my internship was contributing to coordinating the fair. From working with youth to ensuring the smooth execution of the fairground logistics, I better understood the planning that goes into making an event a success. The experience honed my organizational skills, taught me the significance of teamwork and revealed the immense joy of seeing the community come together to celebrate the achievements of its youth.

I also had the opportunity to attend meetings. This exposure to the inner workings of a nonprofit was incredible, giving me a realistic glimpse into the challenges and rewards of this sector. This opportunity will guide me as I continue my education and lead me to a career.

My journey with the 4-H program and the Extension Services office is far from over. Beyond the scope of my internship, I look forward to continuing my involvement and contributing to the program’s growth. As I move forward, I carry the lessons this internship taught me and the experiences I gained.

A woman in sunglasses sits on a stool and smiles at the camera. — Announcing and clerking the horse show at the Union County Fair.
Photo credit: Katie Hauser

Hi, my name is Heidi Moran, and I am an Oregon State University intern in Union County. I am attending Eastern Oregon University and majoring in elementary education. This summer has gone by extremely fast working for the Extension office and helping with many 4-H events.

This summer I helped with our Iron Chef cooking class through our SNAP-Ed and 4-H programs. Every Thursday morning, I would help Jamie Cox with the classes and making sure that the kids were being responsible in the kitchen. I really enjoyed working with the kids and building a connection with them.

Five women stand and smile at the camera. — Carole Smith, Heidi Moran, McKenzie Sheldon, Jordyn Stonbrink and Reese Roys at Tri County 4-H Camp.
Photo credit: Katie Hauser

I also helped at the Union County Fair the first week of August. Before fair started, I announced and clerked the horse show for both Union and Baker counties and prepared packets and other things needed for fair. At the beginning of fair week, I helped clerk the art and photography section of our home economics building. During the fair I helped clerk most of the livestock shows, helped prepare awards for the awards ceremony and helped with what was needed throughout the week. I had participated in the Union County Fair for over nine years as a 4-H member and helped with many of the events at fair. I never realized how much work went into preparing and working at the fair.

A boy stands at a table and chops vegetables. — Helping with the Iron Chef cooking class.
Photo credit: Jamie Cox

One of the highlights of my summer was helping with our Tri-County 4-H camp. I helped prepare for the camp, teach an ice cream class, and help the new counselors learn some of the camp traditions. 4-H camp was something I always participated in as a 4-H member and something I always looked forward to every summer.

From this internship I have learned many new things from helping at all of these events and I will continue to use those skills in the future. It also helped me grow my passion for 4-H and want to stay involved with it in the future. This is something that I will continue doing throughout the rest of my college career!

At the fair.
Photo credit: Fernanda Juarez

Hi everyone, Fernanda Juarez here. I recently finished my internship and attended our county fair, and I enjoyed every bit of it! Being able to see all the 4-H kids in person and seeing them work with their animals really made me thankful to experience this internship.

From toddlers to full-grown teenagers, 4-H members were all helping each other in any way they could. It was adorable seeing the little Cloverbuds (kids from ages 5-8 in 4-H) working with their animals, which were also babies! Competitions involved kids of all different ages. In one of the biggest competitions, called “Round Robin,” kids were asked to show different species of animals and show that they are able to work with all the animals. While they did that, my team and I walked all around the arena, picking up score sheets from judges while checking and adding scores.

In 4-H, you always have a helping hand around you, because everyone is so kind to one another . This is always such a big achievement for kids in 4-H because it shows leadership in the older teens and influences the younger kids, inspiring leadership and responsibility in them as well. Introducing these qualities to kids at an early age helps them develop and learn life skills. This will help them all as they grow older and gain more responsibility.

Malheur County is small compared to other counties, so OSU Extension’s office here and the opportunities provided make a big difference to local kids. Extension’s many other local programs help our communities succeed. It’s the small things that make everything worthwhile.

OSU Extension Internship Program

Category Archives: Livestock

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