Tag Archives: Emily Braibish

OSU Extension intern finds joy in growth and community engagement

Posted on by | Leave a reply

This summer has been ripe with opportunity and growth, and I am immensely grateful for the experience. Working as an intern for OSU Extension has given me the opportunity to serve my community. I find a lot of joy in knowing that I was able to make someone’s day better and I have been able to do that in this position. Others have been able to do this for me as well. 

Otillia Schreuder (left) and Emily Braibish (right) posing with educational materials prepared for garden guests at the 2026 Benton County Fair. Photo: Master Gardener volunteer

One of my responsibilities this summer was to take point on the organization and implementation of the Linn and Benton County fairs for the Master Gardener Program. I worked closely with volunteers from both Linn and Benton Counties to organize volunteers to work in the Demonstration Gardens and spent many hours talking with them in between engaging with visitors. With the shared goal of providing peer reviewed science-based information and answering visitor questions, we were able to get acquainted through our shared love of plants and service. I could see in the volunteers the same passion and dedication that drives me as well. 

Master Gardener volunteers, Tom Pfleeger (right) and Ann Brodie (left), show off the new dry farming plot at then Benton County Demonstration Garden during the 2026 Benton County Fair. Photo: Emily Braibish

Over the course of both county fairs, I was able to listen to the volunteers’ stories and learn why they became Master Gardeners. I really enjoyed hearing about how they were able to apply their specific interests and expertise within gardening – like herbalism, horticultural therapy, greenhouse production, research, and education – to the Demonstration Gardens. I could see how each of their influences touched the gardens and made them better. 

The photo above was taken at a coffee farm in Costa Rica during a study abroad program. The quote is one that Emily deeply resonates with. Photo: Emily Braibish

I made it my goal to help them however I could in making each county fair successful. The Master Gardener Program is such a beneficial service to the community and it is built on the efforts of the volunteers. One of my biggest take-aways from the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program Internship is that the volunteers’ success is our success. As Extension personnel, it is our job to support them – be the soil they push their roots into so that they may grow.  

I hope that I may continue to appreciate the beautiful flowers that the volunteers produce. I wake up each morning excited to go to work and it is a privilege I am very grateful for. Thank you to all of the amazing Extension staff that have welcomed me and taken the time to share their experience with me. I genuinely hope we have the opportunity to work together again in the future.  

“Be somebody who makes everybody feel like somebody.” – Brad Montague                                                                      

– Emily Braibish

OSU Extension intern shares how a 34-year-old salsa recipe connected her to a career path

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Extension has been a part of my family since before I was born. My family has been preserving food for decades. My mom learned from her mom and mother-in-law, and I learned from her. As my mom looked for safe canning recipes in the early 90’s, she turned to the Extension Service for help. From Extension, she found a recipe for salsa that would become a part of my family’s summers for decades. In April of 1990, according to the date on the bottom of the paper, my mom picked up a recipe for salsa. The salsa recipe, in a packet with a couple of other recipes printed on pink paper, became a family staple. We have made that salsa, using that same paper, for 34 years now.  

Emily Braibish assisting at an informational Extension booth. Photo: Otillia Schreuder

Now, as a college student exploring my options, I have also turned to Extension, though for slightly different reasons. As I look for possible career paths and avenues of study, the OSU Extension service is where I have landed. A career in Extension connects research with the public. It helps farmers, families and the surrounding community use new ideas to solve real problems. My goal is to work as an Extension agent who shares useful knowledge, supports local growth and builds strong community ties.  

Emily Braibish, OSU Extension intern in Benton and Linn Counties. Photo: Otillia Schreuder

Extension work plays such an important role in the community by acting as a bridge between the academic work of universities and everyday people. Extension programs serve as a critical link between academic research and the practical needs of local communities. By translating complex scientific data into accessible, actionable tools, Extension agents empower individuals and businesses to implement proven best practices. 

My own desire to work within Extension programming stems from a deep commitment to meaningful community service and public impact. I want to build a career where my daily efforts directly improve the lives of the people around me; Extension provides the perfect framework to turn that goal into reality. By working at the crossroads of education and community, I look forward to giving back to the community, helping my neighbors with their questions, and equipping families with the tools they need to thrive. 

-Emily Braibish, OSU Extension intern in Benton and Linn Counties