I am officially approaching the end of my internship, and as the summer starts to wind down, I would describe the experience as bittersweet. So far, I have worked at 17 events and conducted hundreds of nitrate screenings. My favorite part of these outreach events is getting to greet and interact with community members in each of the towns we visit. Every town and every person has a different relationship with their water, and getting to hear those stories has been one of my favorite parts of this internship.

This internship has also allowed me to go on side quests into other dimensions of Extension, such as health and small farms. One event that really left an impression on me was working at the Sweet Home Free Farm Stand. This event happens once a month, where the City of Sweet Home purchases food from local farmers and distributes fresh produce to residents for free. 

I am passionate about food security, and this event showed me that it really is possible for communities to make a difference and take care of both their people and their local farmers. It made me feel more hopeful for the future, and it never fails to surprise me how there is a nonstop flow of people who show up for free and healthy produce.  

OSU Extension has taught me the importance of looking at the bigger picture and meeting communities where they are. Whether I was testing someone’s well water, helping distribute emergency preparedness supplies, or handing out fresh produce, I was reminded that the work we do is ultimately about connecting people with the knowledge and resources they may need. 

As I look toward the end of my internship, I am excited to take everything I have learned with me into whatever comes next. I am looking forward to continuing to grow as a communicator, working with communities, and finding ways to connect people with the natural resources that support them.

Hello everyone! My name is Nakayda Jacobs, and I am a senior at Oregon State University studying natural resources with a focus in agricultural and natural resources communications. This summer, I have the great pleasure of being part of the Groundwater Protection and Education team with OSU Extension in the mid and southern Willamette Valley. 

One thing to know about me is that I enjoy a little bit of everything and love working at the intersection of different disciplines. One of my favorite parts of this internship has been seeing how natural science and human health come together. I also enjoy working alongside a team of peers with diverse academic backgrounds, each bringing a unique perspective and expertise to the program. Every day has allowed me to learn something new, whether it’s about groundwater, public health or what community outreach really looks like. 

As part of the groundwater team, I get to apply what I’ve learned in soil science and water resources to real-world issues involving private well water and septic systems. It’s been exciting to see how the concepts I’ve learned in the classroom directly translate into helping communities make informed decisions about their drinking water. Working for OSU Extension has been especially rewarding because it allows me to put my education into practice while continuing to learn through hands-on experience and community engagement. 

One unexpected challenge has been learning how to communicate the bitter with the sweet. As someone passionate about science communication, it can be challenging when the information I share has the potential to affect someone’s daily life or livelihood. While I love spending time at community events and farmers’ markets talking with people about topics I’m passionate about, an important part of this work is helping people understand potential risks to their health and water quality. Those conversations require empathy, patience and the ability to explain technical information in a way that is both accurate and approachable. 

Throughout this summer, I hope to continue developing my communication skills and become more confident in having meaningful conversations with a wide variety of audiences. I’m excited to keep learning from my team, strengthen my outreach experience and continue growing as both a natural resource professional and science communicator.