Tag Archives: Douglas County

OSU Extension intern receives a muddy introduction to 4-H

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I am Matthew Harting and I am a mechanical engineering student at Oregon State University. This summer I have been working at the OSU Extension office in Douglas County for 4-H. I haven’t had any prior experience with the Extension Service and my experience with agriculture is also limited. Nevertheless, I have been learning a lot about 4-H and am very grateful for the opportunity to intern with the Extension office. 

Mathew Harting painting at 4-H Clover Bud Camp in Douglas County
Mathew Harting painting at 4-H Clover Bud Camp in Douglas County

Recently, I got the opportunity to teach at the Cloverbud camp in the Discovery Gardens in Roseburg. I was in charge of an exhibit called ‘The Mud Explosion’. When I informed the 4-Hers of this, you may imagine, their anticipation and curiosity were captured. Little did they know, the real display is better described as a small pop. However, they seemed not to care which I was thankful for.

I did the routine three times for three groups. By the time of the third group, I had gotten pretty good at it. The ‘explosion’ worked by filling a vial with runny mud and sealing it with an Alka-Seltzer. Eventually, the Alka-Seltzer would produce enough gass that it would blow open the vial it was in and make a muddy mess all over the launch pad (construction paper). The highest we vial we were able to launch landed in a small tree. Whomever wished to take the remaining muddy paper home then would be able to, undoubtedly to their parents’ delight. 

Beyond the Cloverbud camp, I most look forward to the looming Douglas County Fair. Most of the work I have done thus far in my internship has been in preparation it. Before I became involved, I didn’t fully realize or appreciate all of the work it takes to have a county fair every year. I’m well aware now. 

My job there will be to help with the daily tasks, such as counting and running ribbons to the appropriate places as well as any odd job that may come up and require attention. I am looking forward to this a lot! Regardless, in my second blog post I’m sure I will have plenty to say regarding Fair.

Internship showed I was stronger than I thought

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A woman stands in front of a brightly painted bulletin board and gives the thumbs up gesture.
Johanna Simonson, 4-H summer intern, in front of her finished bulletin boards.
Photo credit: Kelly Simonson

Wow, this summer has gone by fast! I feel like I shouldn’t even be writing my final blog post, but given there is only two weeks left of my internship, it makes sense.

This summer has been such an eye-opening experience. I experienced multiple facets of Extension. Right after I wrote my last blog post, I taught at a Cloverbud Day Camp at Extension’s Discovery Garden. That was enjoyable for me as well as the kids and quite a coincidence considering I was just telling my family how much I missed the kids at the daycare I worked at during school!

My next adventure was in Snap-Ed. That day I drove with a co-worker to Canyonville to set up a booth with samples of Couscous Salad and recipes to hand out at the farmer’s market. The majority of people trying out the sample loved it! A lot of people came back for more, and almost all the recipes we printed out were gone! It was a huge success. Not only that, but I got to learn more about my co-worker. Even though we were different ages, we still had many things in common, which was a delightful surprise.

Another experience I had was a “Mud and Manure” event. This may not sound like a lot of fun to some people and probably slightly disturbing. However, it was actually very educational, and I loved driving out to the farms to see some soil conservation designs around high-traffic livestock areas. I was impressed that the designs have lasted almost a decade, too. Through this event I got an idea of how I would like my job to look in the future. After the event, it wasn’t really planned to go on a farm call,  but I am grateful that we did because it really helped me understand the fuller extent of what being a livestock and forage agent for Extension looks like.

A woman in a pink top stands at a table and makes candles with two kids in white shirts
Johanna Simonson making candles with 4-H.
Photo credit: Kelly Simonson

After this it was time to prepare for the fair. The main events I took charge of were line dancing, candle making, and the bulletin boards in the fairgrounds’ exhibit building. After hours of planning, preparation and creation, everything was finished.

At least 30 people attended the line dancing event. Everybody learned three new dances, which is a lot considering temperatures reached 90 degrees! The candle making event went so well that we ran out of soy wax after making around 25 candles. Even though the paper to decorate the bulletin boards came late, I improvised and painted them instead. Honestly, I am glad I did because they look WAY better than paper décor would. People actually liked the bulletin boards so much they took pictures in front of them. I am very pleased with my events at the fair, even if there were some things that needed to be improved.

Overall, I would say that this internship has been a great experience. I learned more about myself, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and I strengthened my self-discipline muscle. This internship has shown me that I am stronger than I thought I was in multiple areas of my life, and I am fearful to think of where I would be without having participated in this internship. I am extremely thankful to everyone who made it happen. So long, until next time!

May y’all be blessed,
Johanna Simonson

Extension service runs in the family

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Hello y’all!

This is Johanna Simonson talking to you from Douglas County Extension Service.

Two women in an office hug and smile at the camera.
Oregon State University Douglas County 4-H Program Coordinator Kelly Simonson and Oregon State University Extension Service Summer Intern Johanna Simonson.
Photo Credit: Johanna Simonson

This summer I was granted the wonderful and fulfilling position of being an intern at Oregon State University Extension Service in Roseburg, Ore. I mainly work in the 4-H sector, but my internship also includes tasks that allow me to help other sectors of Extension. This allows me to complement my studies in Agricultural Science through a focus on agricultural education to the public. Additionally, I get the unique opportunity to work alongside my mom. How cool is that?! I save on gas, too.

This summer I have already gotten to experience so much. My responsibilities, lately, have mainly included updating, revising and editing documents and older county fair displays, which has strengthened my creative muscles in new ways. Additionally, I attended my first 4-H Extension meeting and proposed an idea that eventually was declined; however, I am proud of the courage I took to propose that idea. I can already see so much growth in my confidence in this internship.

I also have been able to prepare for the county fair and see the background of what goes into making fair happen every year. I have been a part of 4-H since I was in fourth grade. After high school, I bred and grew my own flock of sheep for 4-H youth, and then also helped my younger brother with his project. I had never considered the hard work and dedication that went into the fair every year. I hope to experience as much of 4-H extension as I can in as many settings as possible through this internship.

A woman in an orange shirt sits at a desk and sorts through pages in a binder.
Oregon State University Extension Service Summer Intern Johanna Simonson.
Photo Credit: Nikita Morales

Being around my co-workers, I see nothing but hard-working, dedicated, persevering and get-er-done people. I am constantly inspired by them and look to them for guidance and encouragement.

This summer, my internship will include multiple facets. A main portion will be preparing for the county fair. Another portion is helping with the Cloverbud day camps. I desire to grow my knowledge in youth ag curriculum through this internship, so I am very excited to experiment with that in the Cloverbud camps.

The last portion is fair week and fair take-down. Through all of these different opportunities, I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge in the office, on the procedures and routine of 4-H Extension and diagnosing and analyzing where things can be improved to build upon my knowledge of problem solving and efficiency in the workplace.

Overall, I hope that through this internship I will be able to see the direction I want to take in the agriculture major that either is or is not on my Extension path. I hope to also expound upon my ability to communicate agricultural issues to the public and educate youth as well.

May y’all be blessed!

-Johanna Simonson (soon to be Junior at Oregon State)