Hello! My name is Riley Hampton and I’m an Umatilla County 4-H Intern this
year. I’m an incoming Junior at Southern Oregon University in the emerging media and
design program. This is my second year working with OSU Extension through the
summer internship program.
Rylee Martin presenting her cupcakes during Cupcake Wars at Umatilla County’s PreFair. Photo: Riley Hampton
Umatilla County is already gearing up in the 4-H world, with last Thursday
marking the end of Umatilla County Pre-Fair!
Last week we held live food contests, where contestants prepared everything
from a steak dinner to a dozen cupcakes! Thank you contestants, for my spaghetti and
chimichurri breakfasts.
Throughout the week our Fashion Revue and Presentation contestants showed
up in numbers. We had a combined 40 more contestants than last year, which made for
a busy week!
Thursday morning, I got the opportunity to work with 4-H Youth Leaders while
meeting with the future members of 4-H during Cloverbud Camp. Ambassadors and
volunteers led different stations, teaching the kids about different parts of 4-H in a fun
and engaging way. I’d like to thank my youth leaders as well as the kids who came to
make the day the success that it was.
Well, that’s all for me (for now). Hope to see you at the 2025 Umatilla County
Fair, August 6-9th in Hermiston, Oregon!
My name is Rachel Fuller, and I am an intern for the Oregon State University Extension Service
in Hood River County. This is my first time working with Extension, and my three weeks here
have already been very impactful. I am a senior at OSU, studying crop and soil science. Prior to
going to university, my background was primarily in small scale vegetable farms with a focus on
rural communities.
Rachel Fuller stands proudly in front of the FISH Food Bank Garden in Hood River County. Photo: Megan Wickersham
Through OSU Extension, I have been working at the FISH Food Bank Garden. The garden
produces vegetables that go straight to the food bank, providing the community with hyper-
local produce. The garden also serves as a classroom for groups of kids to learn about the
garden ecosystem.
In the garden I oversee the irrigation systems, plant health, harvesting, seeding/transplanting,
pest management, nutrient management and weekly flow of volunteers. I primarily work with
Master Gardener volunteers. They are a lovely bunch of people with a variety of passions,
knowledge and interests that I have learned a lot from already.
When I’m not in the garden, I have been working on projects in the Extension Office. I have
taken a grant writing class and am preparing to take the second course next week. After I have
completed this, my goal is to write a grant to create a funded Garden Manager position. In
addition, I have made a binder of garden lesson plans, created a record keeping system for the
garden and worked on systems to streamline the productivity of the garden.
The three weeks that I have been here have gone by so quickly and have been very enjoyable.
I’m excited for what the rest of the summer has in store!
Hello! My name is Savannah Barron, and I am currently an intern working for Oregon State
University Extension Service in Columbia County, specifically the SNAP-Ed and Small
farms/Master Gardeners programs. I am going into my third year at Oregon State as an
undergraduate in botany, specializing in ecology, evolution and conservation, while also
minoring in chemistry and anthropology. This is my first year with OSU Extension, and the
experience so far has been amazingly full of community outreach and learning. It’s truly
wonderful to have such a hands-on experience in which you can see part of the impact you’re
having on the people you’re working with.
Savannah Barron, alongside coworkers, manage a booth at the Columbia County Fair. Photo: Janhvi Pandey
Entering my sixth week at OSU Extension, I have been able to participate in many different
programs and events. In fact, I just finished tabling at the Columbia County Fair! The diversity of
people I got to talk to and learn about was very insightful, and I cannot wait for more
opportunities to engage with the community. One program in particular that I have been
focusing on is completing a small farms and gardeners’ needs assessment. Part of OSU
Extension’s mission is to help teach the community, and we can only do that once we know
what they need help with. There are two different surveys I’ve been getting people to complete,
one for gardeners and one for small farms. Both have proved incredibly insightful into the
community’s needs, and as more people answer them, we get more accurate information. My
job is to spread awareness of the surveys and try to garner greater participation. I do this by
compiling information on small farms and calling them and working events like farmers markets
and fairs to do in-person assessments.
Besides the needs assessment, I have just started a few other projects. The biggest one I’m
undertaking is the Community Garden at Louis and Clark Elementary School. Due to lack of
time, this garden has been left to fend for itself for about a year. My job is to get it back in
working order—a thistle-and-native-plant filled journey that I am happy to embark upon—so that
the children and community members can have access to the wonderful teaching tool that is a
garden. On the SNAP-Ed side of things, I will be starting to help with summer lunch programs,
and exercise programs with Food Hero.
I am so grateful for this opportunity to be able to play a part in helping my community. I can’t
wait for the next few weeks on this journey and all the opportunities that await!
Hello everyone! My name is Nyla Bennett. I’m an intern based in Wheeler County. This is my
second summer working for this enriching program and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to
return to this position. Since my previous blog post, I have finished my first year of higher
education at Eastern Oregon University, I was accepted into Oregon Health Sciences
University’s 3-year nursing program, and I am one year closer to obtaining my Bachelor of
Science in nursing with a minor in business. I can’t even begin to describe how thankful I am for
this past year; everything I learned and experienced.
Nyla Bennett teaching youth at a 4-H photography clinic. Photo: Miesha Bennett
Now looking forward, I am eagerly anticipating the antics of a busy 4-H summer. I started
working only recently, but I’m already about to dive into some of our most intense projects. Tri-
County 4-H Camp started the same week I did. So, I drove over to Heppner to help organize
campers and guide counselors. I jumped from this camp to my county’s Cloverbud Day Camps
shortly after. We created curricula and crafts that centered around life sciences and basic
chemistry concepts in the hopes of curating curiosity for future scientists. And with the number
of questions I was asked, I think we did just that!
Last summer, I was a large part of planning and organizing events like these, as well as leading
the hands-on activities with youth. I hope to expand on those responsibilities by being less
dependent on superiors. That’s actually my biggest goal for this summer: working more
efficiently independently. The reason I applied for this position, and am so happy to be back, is
the pure dedication to this program that so many people share. I was in 4-H for nine years, and
the effort I devoted to the projects paid me back tenfold with the knowledge, skills and
friendships I gained. I love seeing the same growth happening with the next generation of
youth. As 4-H’ers face responsibilities and requirements, they flourish. I hope to continue
working as a scaffold for future leaders, helping promote scientific questioning, independence
and, of course, 4-H fun!
As for specific projects I’ll be facing over the future course of this summer, I have a menagerie
of duties ahead. Along with working in the Extension office on materials to make the 4-H
program run smoothly, I also have many event responsibilities. I tutor 4-H youth, providing one-
on-one assistance. I plan and teach clinics with topics such as record books, photography and
animal science. I am so excited for our county fair and leading the community service
opportunities presented to 4-H youth. Thank you for reading!
My name is Ashley Treadwell, and I live in Hermiston, Umatilla County. I just finished my
second year at Eastern Oregon University, and this fall I’ll start the nursing program there in
partnership with Oregon Health & Science University. I’ve loved my time in college and can’t
wait to blend my nursing studies with helping my community.
Ashley Treadwell hands out take-home baking kits to local high schoolers. Photo: Angie Treadwell
Last summer, I interned with OSU Extension, and I enjoyed it so much that I came back
this year. Working with Extension has let me mix my interest in health with community outreach.
One of my favorite parts has been bringing Food Hero recipes into cooking classes at the local
high school. Food Hero is a program by Oregon State University Extension that shares easy,
healthy and affordable recipes in both English and Spanish.
In my cooking classes, I assist students in preparing Food Hero recipes. For example, in
our last class, we made whole‑wheat blueberry muffins. Then, I gave each student all the
ingredients to take home so they could make the muffins again with their families. It was great to
see the students excited to cook and confident to try the recipe at home.
I’ve also worked with elementary students, teaching the Growing Healthy Kids
curriculum during summer school at two Hermiston schools each week. My supervisor, a
coworker and I visit to lead hands-on nutrition lessons. We begin with a fun physical activity tied
to the day’s theme, then show a short video and finish with the kids making and tasting a simple
Food Hero recipe. This approach helps students learn through movement, visuals and flavor,
making healthy eating both accessible and fun for young learners.
Looking ahead, I want to bring Food Hero into more classrooms and community
programs. I’m also excited to start my nursing education this fall. My big goal is to combine
nursing with public health outreach, helping families eat healthier, feel better and learn how
cooking can improve their lives. Prevention is key to preventing future health issues and
allowing for an active and engaged life.
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!
Hello! My name is Aspen Bowling, and I’m currently serving as an intern with the Oregon State
University Extension Service Clatsop County, located in Astoria. This is my first year as an
Extension intern, and it’s already been an incredible opportunity to gain hands-on experience
that’s shaping my understanding of community-based agriculture and outreach. I just completed
my sophomore year at Oregon State University, where I’m majoring in agricultural science with
a minor in agricultural and natural resources communications. Agriculture has always been a big
part of my life as I grew up in California’s Central Valley, where I was actively involved in both 4-
H and FFA. Those early experiences helped spark my passion for ag education and community
engagement.
Aspen Bowling, an intern in Clatsop County, manages the Food Hero information table at a Mobile Produce Pantry event. Photo: Emily Reilly
Now wrapping up my third week with the Extension Service, I’ve had the chance to work
alongside our Small Farms and Master Gardener program coordinator, as well as our Family
and Community Health and SNAP-Ed coordinator. From checking cover crops and collecting
data to supporting mobile food banks, every day brings something new and meaningful.
One highlight so far has been participating in the Mobile Produce Pantry here in Clatsop
County. The local food bank packs up fresh produce and travels to different communities across
the county, distributing food at no cost to residents. At these events, I set up a Food Hero
information table where I share recipes, nutrition tips and quick facts about the produce being
distributed. We also prepare and offer samples of a featured Food Hero recipe, showing
community members simple, healthy ways to use the food they receive. It feels rewarding to see
how happy people get over their free fresh produce.
One of the more exciting projects I’ve been involved with is our cover crop data collection, which
supports local farmers in Clatsop County. Cover crops are important tools for improving soil
health, reducing erosion and managing pests and weeds, but farmers need localized data to
know what works best in our region. This data isn’t just for research but, it will be used to
develop practical, region-specific recommendations for local producers. We use this information
to organize farmer workshops and field days, where we can share results, demonstrate crop
varieties in action and offer guidance on how to integrate them.
This internship has already given me so many valuable experiences, and I’m looking forward to
what’s still to come. I’m proud to be a part of the OSU Extension team and excited to continue
supporting our local farmers and families!
My name is Madeline Breiling, and this is my third year as a SNAP-Ed intern in Umatilla County. I
just finished my third year at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, where I study
mathematics, astronomy and data science. I am very excited to be back in my hometown of
Pendleton, working with the OSU Extension office to serve the community.
Students of the Kids in the Kitchen class in Athena work at preparing tasty cauliflower patties. Photo: Madeline Breiling
I am now in my eighth week of my internship. So far, I have had the opportunity to work on a
wide variety of projects. I have been assisting with a workout class called Strong People
designed for older adults in Pendleton. This class is very different from the rest of the work I
have done in previous years of this internship because the class is exercise-based rather than
food-based, like many of our other classes. I really enjoyed helping with the class and seeing
that SNAP-Ed isn’t just about food and nutrition. In my previous years of the internship, I have
mainly worked with the elementary school age group, so I have been excited to interact with
and serve the older adults in my community.
I have also been able to help with our new Kids in the Kitchen class with middle schoolers in
Athena. This is my first time helping with a longer-term class with the middle school age group,
and it has been a lot of fun to see their cooking skills develop each week. We try to allow them
to make as many of their own choices in the recipe as possible. This is fun because it allows
them to begin to learn how to actually cook rather than just learning how to follow recipes.
I have also had the opportunity to continue projects from the previous years of my internship,
including handing out free food samples and recipes at the Pendleton and Milton Freewater
farmers markets, and helping to teach nutrition and cooking classes to kindergarteners at the
Hermiston summer schools.
As the summer progresses, I am very excited to continue with all of these projects and start
some new ones.
Hey there! My name is Gracie Cox, and I’m going into my third year studying planning, public
policy and management at the University of Oregon’s Clark Honors College with minors in legal
studies and political science. I grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, but I’m now proud to call
Eugene home. This is my first year interning with Oregon State University Extension Service in
Lane County, and the experience has been equally rewarding, challenging and enjoyable so far!
Farm Camp campers take on the task of making strawberry jam with the help of the Lane County Extension’s Master Food Preservation program. Photo: Jordan Bethel
Career-wise, I’m interested in pursuing community health, public interest law and overall, any
path related to public service. Extension has been an excellent outlet for me to explore these
interests, and I’m especially grateful to the 4-H and Nutrition Education programs for
encouraging me to dive right into learning and leaving my mark on Lane County.
Over this summer, I look forward to learning more about the “behind the scenes” of community
development and community health programs; the glimpses I’ve taken of this so far have been
truly inspiring. Also, I’m curious about the work-life balance in public service and how programs
hosted by Extension are responding to changes at the federal level. In observing my Extension
office’s flexibility, it’s become clear to me that this organization is adaptable yet deeply
committed to its community development mission.
So far, my internship has largely revolved around completing projects related to 4-H and
Nutrition Education camps, preparing for the Lane County 4-H and FFA fair and working on
digital outreach for 4-H. In these roles, I’ve had the delight of meeting and working with such
compassionate and diverse individuals, from campers to Extension staff to community leaders.
Only a few weeks in, I already feel so much more connected to the county that I’ve called home
for the past two years, and I look forward to this continuing as summer progresses.
Now three weeks into my summer with Extension, I’m excited to continue educating myself and
my community about the things that matter most: lifelong learning, health and well-being and
our relationships with one another.
My name is Jessalyn, and I am an Oregon State University Extension Service Groundwater
Protection intern based in Benton County. I am currently working on my second bachelor’s
degree from Oregon State University, double majoring in soil science and sustainability. I’m
excited to spend my summer engaging with local communities and learning more about
groundwater and public health. I spent the past decade moving around the United States while I
was in the Air Force and am now enjoying being back in Oregon, close to where I grew up in
McMinnville.
Jessalyn Horton at the Sweet Home Farmer’s Market. Photo: Jessalyn Horton
I first got an idea of the role Extension plays in my Soil 101 class this past fall, and thought it
sounded like an incredible community resource. I’ve got some teaching experience from my
military career, and I’m really interested in the intersection of soil and water. Working with
Chrissy Lucas-Woodruff, my supervisor here in charge of outreach, is something I knew I wanted
to do after she came to speak to a different class I took this past winter, on environmental and
agricultural predicaments. I’m very excited to be building on the knowledge I’ve gained during
my studies so far through water testing and education.
I’m less than a week into this internship, but I’ve already had an opportunity to test water
samples from local well owners for nitrates at the Sweet Home farmer’s market. I had a great
time with Chrissy and my fellow new intern, Taiva — learning the ropes, engaging with the
public on well and septic maintenance and talking about nitrates and arsenic. We spent the rest
of our time during the first week learning about groundwater, wells, septic systems and
common contaminants. We also got to put together our own lab kits and prepare the gear we’ll
use at other events all summer long, where I’m looking forward to lots more learning and
engaging conversation.
