FCH « OSU Extension Internship Program

Hello again!

My name is Kimberly Alcaraz and I interned for the Oregon State University Extension Service in Lincoln County with SNAP-Ed and Family and Community Health. I will be going into my second year at Oregon State University in the fall, majoring in public health on the pre-med track. I want to become an emergency medicine physician and do my best to help anyone I can with a minor in Spanish. I was born and raised in Lincoln County, so I was very fortunate to be helping the community I grew up in with the many opportunities this program offers.

Kimberly Alcaraz presenting at a booth in Lincoln County. Photo: Felicia Olmeta Schult

My summer with Oregon State University Extension Service was amazing. This internship has been something that I have never done before or even thought I would do. This internship helped me learn about the awareness of social determinants of health, preparing me for the comprehensive perspective, which is key for my future career in the medical field. Being able to interact and listen to other people’s point of views and ideas has reassured my passion of wanting to be a doctor and help people no matter what. It strengthened the idea where understanding and collaborating is key when trying to provide the best care especially when it comes to people’s health. Being able to work in a professional environment during my internship was something I was looking forward to by developing skills like communication, working with others, and problem solving which I hope I continue to use when going through and becoming the doctor I strive to be.

Overall, being a part of food tastings, cooking class demonstrations and our Walk With Ease walking group has shown me how something so little can be so impactful. Food tasting and cooking class demonstrations provide a different point of view on how to approach the food you might have in your pantry and for some people providing the only meal people have a day, which makes me think that there can be change in the world even if it is so little. However, something I will never forget is the walking group I was privileged to be a part of and facilitate. Walk With Ease is a research-based program emphasis for people with arthritis being that it is published by the Arthritis Foundation, but is a program for everybody. Everything about building relationships with participants and them actually coming back for every session because they did feel like walking together was helping them, which made me happy that every day of this program was worth it. I feel that everything I have done in this internship will help me in my future challenges in my career because starting here has helped me shape the person I want to be in my professional career. I will always be grateful for my supervisor, everyone at the office, and OSU Extension for this amazing experience.

¡Hola! My name is Flor Gaspar Marquez. This summer, I had the fantastic opportunity to intern with the Oregon State University Extension Service in Lincoln County, where I focused on SNAP-Ed and Family and Community Health. As I approach the end of my internship, I want to reflect on the experiences, the impact these past three months have had on me and the valuable lessons I have learned.

Flor Gaspar Marquez, OSU Extension intern in Lincoln County

When I started this internship, I outlined specific goals: improve my teaching and public speaking skills, learn more about nutrition and physical activity, and build connections with various communities. I remember my first day well. I felt both excited and nervous about speaking to large groups but ready to take on these new challenges. Looking back, I am proud of how much I have grown from being a shy intern to someone who now feels confident and capable.

During my internship, I participated in many diverse activities that enriched my experience. I was involved in the Farmers’ Market Tours, Food-Tasting events at DHS and WIC offices, and the Lincoln County Fair. I also worked with local kindergartens and camps, where my supervisors, Beatriz Botello and Jennifer Pettit, provided nutrition information while I led the physical activities. My different experiences have been rewarding and helped me develop many skills.

One of the highlights of my internship was working on two impactful programs: Walk with Ease and A Taste of Latin American Heritage. Walk with Ease is a program developed by the Arthritis Foundation that promotes daily walking to enhance joint flexibility, reduce pain, and improve overall health through gentle exercises. My goal for Walk with Ease was to lead the classes independently, and I am pleased to say I successfully achieved that. Leading a few classes on my own was a significant accomplishment and a major confidence booster for me.

The second program, “A Taste of Latin American Heritage,” focuses on teaching families about healthy eating with a focus on Latin American cuisine. This program highlights the rich, plant-based food traditions of Mexico, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Participants learned about nutrition and discovered simple, healthy cooking methods inspired by Latin American dishes. Presenting this program in Spanish, my native language, allowed me to connect deeply with the participants and share my cultural heritage.

We also started monthly Eating Well classes at the Newport Library. These classes include a cooking demonstration followed by a presentation on nutrition information and tips. Although I was initially nervous about presenting in English, with preparation and determination, I overcame this challenge and delivered the presentation successfully.

This internship has truly been one of the most enriching experiences of my life. It has equipped me with valuable skills and connections that will shape me into the kind of nurse I aspire to become. These opportunities are crucial for my growth and will help me become a skilled, knowledgeable nurse committed to serving and supporting my community. I look forward to carrying the lessons learned with me as I continue my journey.

Hello, my name is Yolanda, and this is my fourth summer interning with Oregon State University Extension Service. This summer I lead a Walk With Ease group in Nyssa. This allowed community members to engage in physical activity at least three times a week and socialize with their neighbors. The goal for starting Walk With Ease in our county was to reduce isolation rates among community members, increase physical activity and increase awareness of healthy habits. Group members also received Food Hero resources each session. Seeing community members across all age groups enjoy each other’s company as we walked each morning was rewarding. I am beyond proud of my group because everyone started by walking 10 minutes the first week and over the course of the summer have now built up to walking 30 minutes three days a week. Walk With Ease was a beneficial and engaging program I highly enjoyed teaching this summer.

Yolanda Diaz showing an individual the Food Hero website at the WIC farmer's market. — Yolanda Diaz showing an individual the Food Hero website at the WIC farmer’s market. Photo: Barbara Brody

While I’ve worked at farmers markets in the past, this year I had the opportunity to work at the WIC (Women, Infant, and Children) farmers market hosted by the Malheur County Health Department. At the WIC farmer’s market, I engaged with over 400 families sharing the Food Hero website and explaining the various features they can utilize. Majority of the families I spoke to were not aware of Food Hero and everyone found it to be a very helpful resource. It’s always a delight to use my bilingual skills to assist community members who often struggle to access resources due to a language barrier. I learned that the WIC farmers market is more than a place to buy produce or share resources. It’s also a place to connect with families and community members who share the same environment, celebrate common successes, and face similar challenges.

Malheur County ranks at a high rate of food insecurity and there is much effort from families who do their best to tackle this challenge. Being at farmers’ markets and teaching about healthy nutrition, easy access and low-cost recipes, is one way I’ve seen Malheur County Extension contribute to the prevention and recovery of food insecurity. Community outreach has been one of my favorite parts of my internship. Being from Malheur County, I deeply value the opportunity to engage with families, students and community members. It feels like a direct impact is being made, leading to positive development. I am most fortunate to have been able to serve Malheur County this summer and look forward to contributing to all the continued work there is to deliver.

This summer has been filled with amazing opportunities to engage with our community and connect with partners to serve Malheur County. A highlight for me during the latter half of my internship has been working in Adrian, Oregon. For the past few weeks, we have been running a “Kids in the Kitchen” cooking camp and a sewing camp once a week, in conjunction with local community members. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch the kids learn how to sew—a skill I don’t even possess—and to see them make healthy meals, growing their confidence and independence in the kitchen.

4-H campers measuring yogurt for parfaits — SNAP-Ed Kids in the Kitchen camper measuring yogurt for parfaits. Photo: Karrington Troyer

During the cooking portion of the camp, we taught the kids how to read a recipe and measure ingredients. It was so fun to watch them catch on quickly, and we were rewarded with delicious chicken alfredo! They also worked on practicing kitchen safety, such as knife cutting skills which is so important to teach at a young age! Along with their chicken alfredo they cut up fruit and made yummy yogurt parfaits. This program offers kids in rural communities the opportunity to master a lifelong skill and engage in productive activities during their downtime this summer. Additionally, it provides them with a new way to contribute to their households. Learning to cook healthy meals is crucial for ensuring proper nutrition and saving money by reducing the need to eat out frequently. I didn’t fully appreciate the importance of this skill until I moved out for college. With most of the students ranging from third grade to 10th grade, they are already getting a head start!
As my summer internship comes to an end, I am filled with gratitude towards Oregon State University Extension and my two supervisors, Barb Brody and Toiresa Frazier. These two women have taught me so much about resilience, as well as the importance of not only serving but also listening to your community and building relationships. Our summer programming has been focused on meeting the needs of the community and to ensure this, we conducted surveys at the end of our camps and programs to gather feedback on what participants enjoyed and what we could improve. This is just one small example of how the team continued to check in to make sure we were on the right path with our programming.
One of the key takeaways from this summer is that there is always room for improvement. It’s essential to slow down, re-evaluate, and ensure you’re meeting the community’s needs. I learned that there is a system of checks and balances in extension work that I hadn’t considered before. These principles and this level of care are what I hope to bring into every aspect of my life, both professionally and personally.

-Karrington Troyer

Hi everyone! My name is Forrest Pratt, and I am interning with Oregon State University Extension Service in Linn and Benton counties this summer. I am working with SNAP-Ed and supporting the Food Hero program. I am a senior at Oregon State University, where I am pursuing a double bachelor’s degree in zoology and education, and I will be a student teacher in a middle school science classroom during the upcoming school year.

Forrest Pratt serves "Strawberry Swirl" at Food Hero booth at Farmers Market. Photo: Vonda Peters — Forrest Pratt serves “Strawberry Swirl” at Food Hero booth at Farmers Market. Photo: Vonda Peters

So far, I have focused on Food Hero outreach at farmers’ markets with Extension. I have also worked on a few other Food Hero outreach projects in community resource centers. Food Hero promotes accessible healthy eating by sharing recipes that are nutritious, low-cost, and easy to make. The website also has information about food safety and storage, gardening, and physical activity. We bring samples of these recipes that use in-season produce to the markets for people of all ages to try. We encourage people to try making them and to explore what else Food Hero has to offer. I love talking with the people at the markets about the recipe, the market, Food Hero, or anything else they want to talk about. My favorite part is seeing the different reactions kids (and adults!) have to trying something new.

I’ve also met with other people who work for the Extension Service in Linn County, and had chances to learn about what they do and support some of their work. I am exploring careers for myself in formal and informal education, and I am especially interested in community outreach. Interning with the Extension Service is providing me with a new perspective on what this type of work can look like. It is also offering me opportunities to practice event planning and facilitation.

In a few weeks, I will be teaching a local youth club a lesson about energy as it relates to food intake and physical activity. One of the parts of this position that I am enjoying the most is the ability to connect with a variety of people, and to promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle to many different people in my community. As the summer goes on, I am looking forward to taking on more of the planning responsibilities of our outreach initiatives and participating in more farmers’ market events.

Hello! My name is Trinitie Long-Hindman and I am beyond excited to be interning with Oregon State University Extension Service here in Lane County. I am currently a Lane Community College student where I am getting my associate degree in human services, with aspirations to move on to Portland State University. My area of interest is interacting with youth. I enjoy working with youth because it allows me to be part of tomorrow’s leaders and I find that fulfilling and with this internship I will be able to be a part of that.

Trinitie Long-Hindman in Lane County with shapes activity artwork. Photo: Trinitie Long-Hindman

I began my internship with 4-H at the STEM camp that was hosted in Lane County, at our office. Within this camp the youth interacted with various activities regarding Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. 4-H program focuses on empowering young people through hands-on learning experiences. One of my main responsibilities was to help organize and facilitate workshops for this camp. I enjoyed interacting with the youth participants who were enthusiastic and eager to learn. I love being blessed with the opportunity to guide them through challenges, celebrate their successes, and witness their development into confident individuals.

I also began working with SNAP-Ed at the Bethel Farm Camp. With this camp we showed 4th and 5th grade students how to make healthy food recipes. We provided them a hands-on learning experience while promoting healthy eating habits. In addition, I have also spent time working with forestry. This week I made an outline for a new episode for the podcast In the Woods. For this episode we will talk about youth and forestry and what programs are available to youth in our community.

Looking ahead I will be helping organize and prepare for the Lane County Fair and summer Extension camps. I am eager to experience these up-coming events. In addition to be able to enhance my professional abilities. I am given a unique chance to develop a diverse skill set that spans community outreach, education program design, and (my favorite) youth engagement. I am beyond ecstatic about the prospect of growth both personally and professionally, and I look forward to leveraging this experience to build a solid foundation for my future career.

Holis! My name is Jazmin Contreras and I am this summer’s Family and Community Health Intern at OSU Extension Service in Hood River County. I am now a third-year student at Lewis and Clark College majoring in economics and minoring in data science. What most caught my attention within the field of economics was economic development and global health economics because it emphasizes raising people’s overall quality of living by addressing needs beyond the financial. These include addressing hunger, education, and health. This internship provides me with a unique, social work perspective of how these needs are being addressed in my community and how we can continue to address them. I am most looking forward to gaining a deeper appreciation of qualitative data and humanity within research and giving back to the community that raised me to be the person I am today.

Food Hero Gecko made by program participant. Photo: Jazmin Contreras

This is week three of the internship for me and thus far one of my fondest memories was tabling at el Mercado del Valle (a Latino-operated farmers market). I offered a tasting of a veggie ceviche which people really enjoyed. The best part was the community, joy and live music. In these past few weeks, I have also been helping with summer camp programming and developing heat and smoke safety guidelines for youth and older adults.

In the coming weeks I am most excited to continue working on the 2025 Columbia Gorge Food Security Assessment. Not only will this project provide me with invaluable professional experience, it will also provide our community partners updated information with which to continue making our home a better place for everyone to live in. As the first-generation daughter of two farm workers, being able to participate in this assessment means the absolute world. But in the bigger picture it also means that more kids like me may have access to food and thus be able reach their dreams just as I am doing now. To end this blogpost, I want to leave you with a quote from a song I grew up with. Gerardo Reyes’ Sin Fortuna: “las letras no entran cuando se tiene hambre” or “letters cannot enter when one is hungry”. I feel that this song and this line specifically really capture my motivations for this project.

Hasta la proxima,

Jazmin Contreras.

Hello! My name is Cassidy Swan, and I’m excited to be interning with the Oregon State University Extension Service in Lane County. I just graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in public health, focusing on health promotion and health behavior. This summer, I’m working mainly with SNAP-Ed and 4-H Youth Development. My ultimate goal is to work in eating disorder treatment and prevention with adolescents and young adults. I believe that fostering healthy relationships with food and body image from a young age is crucial for long-term well-being. This internship with the OSU Extension Service is giving me invaluable experience to reach that goal.

Cassidy Swan in Lane County with a goose. Photo:Jennifer Volem

With SNAP-Ed, I’ve been teaching cooking classes to fourth and fifth graders, helping them build a healthy relationship with food and understand the importance of balanced nutrition. In addition, my work with 4-H Youth Development lets me connect with kids through various activities that encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 4-H also focuses on mental health, providing a supportive environment where youth can build self-esteem, resilience, and emotional well-being.

Looking ahead, I’ll be helping prepare for the Lane County Fair and Extension summer camps. I’ll also be conducting Food Hero tastings and demonstrations at food pantries, promoting healthy eating habits and showing how to prepare affordable, nutritious meals. These hands-on activities are designed to make healthy eating accessible and enjoyable, reinforcing the positive messages we aim to share through our programs.

Beyond these activities, I’m excited to grow my professional skills, gain hands-on teaching experience, and apply what I’ve learned from my degree. This internship has been an invaluable experience, allowing me to combine my passion for public health with direct community engagement. By working with SNAP-Ed and 4-H Youth Development, I’m gaining important insights into how educational programs can prevent eating disorders and promote lifelong healthy behaviors. I can’t wait to continue this journey and contribute to the well-being of the community.

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, my name is Reagan Shira, and this summer I have the privilege of interning with the Oregon State University Extension Service in Malheur County. I graduated from Corban University with my bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and I am now working toward my master’s degree in teaching through Eastern Oregon University. Having grown up in Malheur county, I am really excited about the many program opportunities that we are offering and that I will be able to help lead.

Reagan Shira passes out Walk With Ease programming prior to walk. Photo: Barbara Brody

One program that I am very excited about is Walk with Ease. Walk with Ease is a research based exercise program published by the Arthritis Foundation. It is targeted to older adults who are looking to improve their health and reduce joint pain. Through the work of my supervisor, Barbara Brody, we are now able to offer this program in Adrian, Nyssa, and Ontario. I lead the group in Adrian which is a huge blessing as this is the community that I grew up in.

Through this program, participants will not only learn the research behind the exercise and how it is implemented, but research has shown the positive impact of educational, social, and physical activity initiatives on older adults. They can enhance both mental and physical health, alleviate loneliness and social isolation, and promote emotional well-being and overall quality of life for participants.

Although we are only three weeks in, it has already been so rewarding. While the physical results take time to establish, I can already see other impacts the program is making for our aging adults. The participants have really enjoyed having a place to gather and socialize. Many days they stick around and chat for 10-15 minutes after our workout as they catchup.

It is important for our aging population in rural areas that opportunities such as Walk with Ease are available. According to County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, 27% of Malheur County residents are physically inactive outside of work compared to the state average of 20%. Only 36% of Malheur County residents having adequate access to locations for physical activity which is over 50% less when compared to the rest of the state.

So far, my internship with the OSU Extension office in Malheur County has been incredibly fulfilling, particularly through my involvement in the Walk with Ease program. As a native of Malheur County and a student dedicated to advancing in the field of education, I am deeply invested in improving the health and well-being of our community’s older adults. Through initiatives like Walk with Ease, we not only provide valuable physical exercise but also foster social connections and emotional support that are vital to overall wellness. Moving forward, I am eager to continue contributing to programs that make a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents, ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities that promote a healthier and more vibrant community.

OSU Extension Internship Program

Tag Archives: FCH

OSU Extension Intern help home community

Extension intern shares impactful programming with communities

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Extension intern supports rural youth

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Food Hero intern finds social work perspective in Hood River County

Promoting healthy eating in Lane County

Extension Intern in Umatilla County seeks to expand Food Hero reach

Extension intern deeply invested in improving community health

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