Umatilla County « OSU Extension Internship Program

My name is Madeline Breiling and I’m now in my last week of my OSU Extension summer internship in Umatilla County. This summer has gone by so quickly with so many learning opportunities and fun events. I can’t believe my internship is almost over. Throughout the summer, I have had the opportunity to plan and assist with many projects. I was able to continue many of the projects I started and enjoyed last year, as well as start many new and exciting projects for this summer.

Interns Madeline Breiling (left) and Ashley Treadwell (right) in Umatilla county at the Pendleton farmers market. Photo: Carolina Muniz

At the very beginning of my internship, I got to assist with Extension’s table at the Morrow County Children’s Fair in Boardman. We did a food sampling of two different recipes that are healthier alternatives to common afterschool snacks. We also helped children plant radish seeds to start their very own garden. This was a great opportunity to jump straight into community engagement in the first couple of days of my internship.

Throughout my internship, I have had the wonderful opportunity to assist with many classes being taught all over the county by the Umatilla County SNAP-Ed team. I got to assist with smoothie making and seed planting with the Head Start kids at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. This was a very unique opportunity because this is the only event or class I’ve had the opportunity to do with preschool age children.

I also had the opportunity to assist with the Hydromania camp in Hermiston. Master Gardeners and researchers from the Extension office in Hermiston led an insect class. Then the SNAP-Ed team led a smoothie making class using the blender bike. This got the kids at the Hydromania camp very excited about healthy eating and physical activity.

Last summer, I handed out free food samples and educated the public about Food Hero at the Pendleton Farmers Market and the Milton-Freewater Farmers Market. This summer, I had the opportunity to expand that project by also handing out samples and educating the public about Food Hero at the Athena Farmers Market. I also got to assist with the Hermiston Farmers Market. I’ve always loved attending farmers markets and last summer I really enjoyed having a Food Hero table at the farmers market, so I am very excited I had the opportunity to continue and expand that project.

The project I am the proudest of is my work with St. Mary’s Outreach in Pendleton this summer. I got to hand out free food samples to everyone getting food from the food bank and educate them on Food Hero. I also gave the food bank many Food Hero resources to hand out to the public even when an OSU representative can’t be present. This included Food Hero tortilla recipes to tape to the bags of masa, Food Hero instructions for how to cook dried beans that are now included in every box of food the food bank hands out, and instructions for how to safely cook food in the microwave to give to members of the public who don’t have access to a stove or oven. I felt this project was very fulfilling because I felt that some of these community members would really benefit from having Food Hero resources. I also felt that my work has a more lasting impact because St. Mary’s Outreach continues to hand out the Food Hero resources I left with them to everyone who comes to get food.

Overall, I feel very proud of my work with OSU Extension this summer. I was able to take the lead on a variety of projects as well as assist team members with projects they were working on. I want to thank Shevon Hatcher for being the best person to share an office space with and for knowing the answer to any question you could think to ask, Carolina Muniz for supporting me in my projects and Karen Wagner for introducing new ideas to the Umatilla County SNAP-Ed team.

My name is Ashley Treadwell, and I am located in Umatilla County, specifically in Hermiston. I just finished my first year of college at Eastern Oregon University, and I am working towards my bachelor of science degree in nursing. There are a multitude of areas that you can enter in the field of nursing. I hope to become a travel nurse in the future because I thoroughly enjoy traveling and experiencing what this world has to offer. I would only pursue this for a few years, however, then eventually work at a hospital. I chose this internship because it will help me to become knowledgeable about the public health aspect of nursing. If I can inform my patients about nutrition, it will help play a large role in prevention. It will also help to further develop my communication skills with people of a variety of ages.

Ashley Treadwell explains nutritional guidelines Photo: Angie Treadwell

I have a lot of experience with Extension. As a kid I had the pleasure in participating in 4-H and was first exposed to the Extension Service from my time there. I always had a positive experience while being in 4-H and I learned many lifelong skills that I continue to carry with me. My mom was previously employed at the Extension and while she was here, I aided her in making videos for the Food Hero website. My main job was filming the videos and editing them. Through this I learned a lot about Food Hero as a whole and what they have to offer children and families. I never realized how affordable and simple each recipe was to make. I also would join my mom at cooking classes here and there and help with childcare. Extension has created a great environment, and I am grateful to have gotten this internship.

This summer I hope to learn more about Food Hero and its impact on the community. I am looking forward to meeting new people and making new connections. Cooking classes are one aspect of this internship I look forward to as well.

One of my project ideas is to teach cooking classes to a summer school class at the high school. As I was browsing the Food Hero website and social medias, I noticed they frequently advertise for young children and their families. However, Food Hero is for every age. I think that high schoolers should be integrated into platforms, so that everyone can see that it is indeed for all ages. I know as a college student I have utilized some of the food hero recipes due to them being cost effective and easy. I plan on doing integrating this idea by creating a couple Instagram Reels at the classes I teach, so that those who follow our social media can be exposed to my idea. Reels are a very popular way to watch videos, so that is why I chose this avenue to gain exposure.

Hello everyone!

My name is Madeline Breiling and I am interning with Oregon State University Extension Service in Umatilla County with SNAP-Ed. I just finished my second year at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, majoring in mathematics. I grew up in Umatilla County and I also served as an OSU Extension intern last summer, so I am excited to be back and helping in the community again this summer.

Madeline Breiling poses with chips and dip at Food Hero event — Madeline Breiling with chips and dip at Food Hero event. Photo:Mike Jones

I am in the seventh week of my internship and I am excited to share some of what I have accomplished so far. Since I was also an intern last summer, I had some familiarity with SNAP-Ed and the Food Hero program. Last summer I really enjoyed getting to hand out free food samples and educate the public on healthy eating and the Food Hero program at the Pendleton Farmers Market and at the Milton Freewater Farmers Market. This summer I am excited because I have had the opportunity to hand out free food samples of our Food Hero recipes and educate the public on the Food Hero program at the Pendleton and Milton Freewater Farmers Markets once again, but I have also been able to expand my scope and be at the Athena and Hermiston Farmers Markets as well.

Early in my internship, I had the opportunity to have a Food Hero table at the Children’s Fair in Boardman. I was able to give many children and families fun ideas for healthier alternatives to the snacks they usually eat. I also had the opportunity to join the Farm to School Program at Athena-Weston School District’s Family Night where we made salsa using ingredients from the school garden. This was a great opportunity for the students and their families to see that food doesn’t just come from the grocery store.

As I quickly approach the final weeks of my internship, I am excited to continue working on the many projects I am already working on as well as begin to do more with St Mary’s Outreach in Pendleton. I am very excited to be back in Umatilla County with Extension and to see what other opportunities the rest of the summer will bring!

A metal table filled with lab supplies. — Lab table in Milton-Freewater, setting up to conducted sugar, pH and TA measurements on wine grapes.
Photo credit: Melinda Cramp

Hello once again! It’s hard to believe I am in my last week of this internship. I’d like to believe I’ve come a long way since I started in mid-June, and I’m happy to say that I’ve continued to learn new skills since my last blog post in August. Some of those new things I’ve learned include taking the sugar content, pH and titratable acidity (TA) of wine grapes. To find the amount of sugar in wine grapes, we use a tool called a refractometer that measures how the grape juice bends light. This tells us the sugar content, and when the ideal harvesting time will be. Finding the pH of wine grapes is fairly simple with the use of a benchtop pH meter. Finally, to calculate the TA of wine grapes we use a pH meter, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and burette to slowly drip in the NaOH into a known mixture of grape juice and water until the pH meter reads a certain number. Once that number has been met, we do some simple math to find our TA. All of this work has been done in Milton-Freewater with my supervisor Cody Copp and fellow intern Aiden Wiggins. Who knew so much went into growing grapes and making wine!

Three people walk through a field of young hemp plants. — Setting up for a hemp field day at CBARC with fellow interns Mazon Langford, Gabbie Fertello, and supervisor Alan Wernsing.
Photo credit: Melinda Cramp

Like I mentioned in my previous blog, I also spend some of my time at the Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center. One new skill I’ve acquired in the last month is learning how to tell apart male and female hemp plants, and how to harvest and clean hemp plants once they’re ready. Hemp can be used for fiber, seed and flower. Additionally, my supervisor at CBARC, Don Wysocki, taught me all about land surveying and how to apply it in the real world.

This internship has truly taught me numerous life skills and field skills. I am thankful for all the opportunities that I have received from OSU and my supervisors. It was such a wonderful experience being able to work right in my own community.

– Melinda Cramp

A young woman smiles as she holds a food blender attached to the handlebars of a bicycle pedaled by a child. — Helping power the blender bike at the Hermiston Public library.
Photo credit: Carolina Muniz

Hi, my name is Karsynn Olivas. Now that my summer internship is ending, I am confident going into the new school year that nutrition is a career path I want to pursue. I have learned so much working with the Oregon State University Extension program and Snap Ed that I can apply to my future. My most valuable takeaway from my summer working for this program is how to bring awareness to nutrition throughout a community. Before working here, I was always hesitant to talk about nutrition with others. Now I recognize the importance of spreading awareness about healthy habits and easy recipes. Seeing not only kids but adults getting excited to learn about nutrition brought me so much fulfillment

Not only did I learn to teach about nutrition, but I also learned so much from my partner Carolina Muniz and my supervisor Maria Ximena Williams. They both have been such amazing resources to help guide me throughout this internship. I am so grateful to have met them and been able to work with them. The connections with others I have made throughout this summer internship are ones I hope to keep.

The project I worked on this summer was dedicated to food tastings at the Hermiston summer meal sites. I attended different parks and schools to allow kids and their families to taste a new recipe I made from the Food Hero website. This was a huge success. The kids were all excited to try something new, and at the same time, it helped to promote Food Hero throughout the community.

Overall, I am extremely appreciative to have worked for The OSU Extension program and Snap Ed. This summer is one I will never forget.

I’m now in my last full week of my OSU Extension internship. This summer has flown by with so many fun events and learning experiences. I can’t believe my internship is almost finished. Throughout this summer, I have had the opportunity to help with and plan many projects. I got to assist with a Farm to School Camp. I got to help teach kids about healthy eating, gardening and making some Food Hero recipes. I started this project right at the beginning of my internship and it taught me a lot about Food Hero and the vast range of topics SNAP-Ed covers.

Four women in orange shirts that say Food Hero stand in front of tall sunflowers. — Pendleton and Hermiston’s SNAP-Ed team (from left to
right) Maria-Ximena Williams, Madeline Breiling, Karsynn Olivas and Carolina Muniz.
Photo credit: Karen Wagner

I have also had the opportunity to help with teaching the Growing Healthy Kids curriculum in the Hermiston Library. This project was run by the Hermiston SNAP-Ed team, but I was very excited to be able to assist in the class. This class was unique compared to the other events I participated in because it was usually the same families every week. This meant we could start to develop a relationship with these families and see them grow and get more comfortable with the class.

I’ve also had the opportunity to hand out free food samples and educate the public about Food Hero at both the Pendleton Farmers Market and the Milton-Freewater farmers market. I’ve always loved attending the Pendleton farmers market, so getting to hand out free food samples was a very fun experience. I got to choose the recipes, make the food, make handouts of the recipe and hand out the food samples to the public.

The project that I’m the proudest of is handing out free food samples at the summer meal site in Pendleton. For this project I picked all the recipes, made all of the handouts and handed out the food samples by myself. I decided to do an around-the-world theme for the food samples for the month of July. I wanted to show that you can edit and combine Food Hero recipes to make dishes from all over the world, and I wanted to introduce people to flavors and new recipes. I also wanted to show people that you can make interesting meals while on a budget. I love cooking and creating recipes, so I really loved this project.

Overall, I feel so proud of all my work with OSU Extension this summer. I was able to help and take the lead on such a variety of projects. I want to give a huge thank you to Shevon Hatcher for knowing the answer to every single question I could ever think of; Maria-Ximena Williams for letting me take the lead on projects while also always being there to support me; and Carolina Muniz for including me in some of Hermiston’s projects.

-Madeline Breiling

A handheld device measures grape leaves. — An LI 600 porometer helps measure stomatal conductance of grape leaves in a vineyard near Milton-Freewater.
Photo credit: Melinda Cramp

Hi all, my name is Melinda Cramp! This summer I am fortunate enough to be interning with OSU extension in my home county of Umatilla. I spend half my time in Milton-Freewater mainly focusing on vineyards with my supervisor Cody Copp, and the other half at the Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center (CBARC) in Adams helping with dryland farming projects. I just wrapped up my first year of school at Central Washington University, majoring in environmental sciences with a geography specialization. Having the ability to come back home and work on the agricultural and horticultural issues that face my community daily makes this internship even more rewarding. I am also able to explore future career opportunities.

A man in a red shirt leans back against a combine in a wheat field. — Fellow intern Mason Langford rests against a combine about to harvest a wheat trial at CBARC.
Photo credit: Melinda Cramp

Some projects that I’ve been able to help with in the vineyards include cover cropping, magnesium deficiency prevention and the usage of Kaolin clay to suppress grape leafhoppers. At CBARC I’ve aided in the harvest, cleaning, processing and data collection of many variety trials, including winter and spring canola, hemp, wheat and peaola (pea and canola intercropping).

I have really enjoyed learning how to use new equipment this summer, like the LI-600 porometer, which measures stomatal conductance on grape leaves. I’ve also worked on combines/swathers that harvest all sorts of agricultural goods. My hope is by the end of this internship I’ll be comfortable operating all sorts of equipment and feel confident in my ability to record and analyze data.

A woman shows children a drawing. — A lesson on soil and soil types at Hydromania science camp.
Photo credit: Amanda Woodlee

Hello! My name is Cadence Cooley, and I am interning at the OSU Extension office in Umatilla County throughout the summer. I was born and raised in Hermiston, Oregon, and graduated from Hermiston High School this June. I plan on attending Eastern Oregon University this fall and majoring in elementary education.

A woman teaches children in a classroom using visual aids on a screen. — Introduction and ice breaker at Camp Cloverbud.
Photo credit: Shauna Newman

I have been involved in the livestock and 4-H industry, showing swine for as long as I can remember, and I participated in FFA throughout my high school years. These programs have really shaped the person I have become today. Seeing how I am going to be helping in the 4-H and Master Gardener programs, I think this will be right up my alley.

So far, I have helped mainly in setting up our Cloverbud Camp, Hydromania Camp, as well as preparing for our Umatilla County 4-H Dog Show, which will take place in a little under a week. These experiences have been so fun and very informative. I love getting the chance to make new connections with people and see how the inside of the 4-H world takes place. Not only have I learned a deeper understanding of how the 4-H and the Master Gardener programs work, but I have also learned how the people at the Extension office complete all of their tasks. There is all sorts of communication, organizing, as well as networking. I know I will learn so much more this summer and I am looking forward to all that is to come!

A woman in a black t-shirt stands behind a table filled with food samples. — Karsynn Olivas helping at a Food Hero event.
Photo credit: Carolina Muniz

Hello everyone, my name is Karsynn Olivas and I am a summer Intern for the Oregon State University Extension Service SNAP-Ed program in Umatilla County. I currently attend Colorado State University in Fort Collins, but I was born and raised in Oregon. Although attending my first year of college and studying business has been fun, I am excited about going back to my roots this summer and working for SNAP-Ed. I have always had quite an interest in nutrition and even took a couple of nutrition classes last year. Not knowing exactly what I would like to do yet, this job gives me the opportunity to dip my toes into one of my biggest interests.

My goals going into this job were to be more active in the community, learn more about nutrition and how to spread the importance of it and last but not least get to spend time with children of all ages. So far, this has been a huge success. I have been able to teach classes at the library alongside SNAP-Ed Education Program Assistant Carolina Muniz, teaching kids and their families healthy Food Hero recipes. I have also worked at the Hermiston farmers market each week sharing a recipe with community members.

Overall, I have learned a lot about nutrition and working with kids since being a part of the SNAP-Ed program. I hope to only continue to learn more about it and grow not only as an individual but in the community.

A woman stands in a booth with small plastic cups of food for sampling. — Madeline Breiling representing the Food Hero program at the farmers’ market.
Photo credit Heidi Van Kirk

My name is Madeline Breiling and I’m an OSU Extension SNAP-Ed intern in Umatilla County. I just finished my first year at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, majoring in Mathematics. I grew up in Umatilla County and am excited to be back and helping in the community this summer!

A woman directs three young children as they ride a bicycle powered food blender. — Teaching kids using a bicycle powered blender.
Photo credit Karen Wagner.

I had never heard of OSU Extension before applying for this internship, but I am very excited to join the Extension internship team. So far in my internship, I’ve had the opportunity to assist with Athena’s Farm to School program and hand out samples at the farmers market.

I look forward to continuing both projects and starting a Food Hero table at the summer meal site in Pendleton.

Cooking and gardening have always been hobbies of mine, so I am excited to be able to continue these passions as a job this summer. I enjoy community engagement and volunteered at an afterschool program in Charleston last year, so I look forward to continuing to help in the community.

OSU Extension Internship Program

Category Archives: Umatilla County

OSU Extension intern involved in outreach at food pantry in Pendleton

Extension Intern in Umatilla County seeks to expand Food Hero reach

Educating the public about Food Hero

Internship taught me numerous life and field skills

Spreading awareness of healthy habits

Proud of my work with OSU Extension this summer

Analyzing data to help solve agricultural and horticultural issues

Looking forward to all that is to come

Getting back to Oregon roots with SNAP-Ed

Hello everyone!

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