Buckingham County
Primary Program Area Focus: Agriculture and Natural Resources
Describe the plans for this internship. (i.e. What specifically will the intern be doing?)
In the 2008 situation analysis, two of the top issues identified for Buckingham County were sustainable agriculture and positive youth programming. Hiring a VCE summer intern will enable Virginia Cooperative Extension to provide additional programming during the summer to address these needs. The intern in this position will be spend the majority of his/her time working with the Agriculture and Natural Resources program, but will also be exposed to 4-H and FNP programming and provide assistance as needed. Partial funding for this internship is provided by the Peter Francisco Soil and Water Conservation District and three weeks of the summer will be spent in support of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Environmental Education for youth and adults.
Late May
- VCE orientation; training.
- Work with Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent on VCE involvement and planning of BARN facility programs.
- Assist with grant applications for BARN supplies and appliances for 4-H and Agriculture and Natural Resources programs.
June
- Work with UAA and Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent to package and distribute ear tags for the BCA tel-o-auction.
- Work with UAA & Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in mailings to producers.
- Work with Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent on farm visits.
- Work with Peter Francisco Soil and Water Conservation District on upcoming educational programs.
- Work with 4-H Program Technician in providing supervision for Fantastic 4-H Fun Days.
July
- Work with Peter Francisco Soil & Water Conservation District in preparing for and conducting Environmental Day Camp.
- Work with Peter Francisco Soil and Water Conservation District in records maintenance.
- Work with 4-H Program Technician in providing supervision for Fantastic 4-H Fun Days.
- Assist Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Record Keeping during Cattle Grading (Farm Visits).
- Assist UAA in inputting data into the computer; printing and mailing packets for BCA Telo-Auction.
Early August
- Assist with BCA Tel-o-Auction preparation and cattle load out.
- Complete intern evaluation.
Describe the knowledge / skills that the intern is expected to gain from this experience.
The Intern will gain the following knowledge/skills:
- Cattle working.
- The importance of proper record keeping.
- How to manage time effectively.
- The many facets of preparing cattle for market.
- The contributions VCE makes to the Agriculture community in terms of providing information, education and support
How will the intern learn about the breadth of VCE and our various program areas?
Through working in a very busy Extension Unit, the Intern will be immersed in Agriculture and Natural Resources programming with a special emphasis on cattle production. He/she will be interacting with agricultural producers as well as clientele with home gardening, forestry, pest control, or related questions. The intern will work with youth in the Fantastic 4-H Fun Days and Environmental Day Camp programs. Through everyday activity, answering phones, and greeting walk-in clients, the VCE summer intern will gain a good understanding of Extension summer programming at the local level.