Rylee Brown

 The UMD Extension internship has had a huge focus on productive practices. We have explored a few different practices that allow producers to make the most out of their land and resources. A specific example of this is rotational grazing which helps producers achieve efficient pasture management. The transfer of knowledge is so important. Extension models how being a lifelong learner is essential in developing new and improved practices and transferring that knowledge and information to our farming community. This is a motivation for pursuing a career in Agriculture and Education. This career field is essential in helping farmers and developing young people to handle these challenges of economic and environmental changes. 

 Last week was a packed week. It began with a weigh day for the cattle and sheep here at the research facility. We weighed the animals and collected fecal samples. I also applied more fly spray to the cattle. When we are moving the animals through the handling system it is the perfect time to catch anything out of the ordinary and while moving the animals through the chute, we noticed a steer that felt a little hot. We took his temperature which showed a fever, so we were able to administer the steer medicine. We spent the rest of the day setting up a few strips of temporary fencing. This internship had developed my animal stewardship skills an incredible amount.

The majority of my week was spent at the Washington County Fair. On Tuesday, I spent the day helping with the market hog show and the beef cattle show. Wednesday was the Dairy steer show, so I assisted with that in the morning then assisted with a visiting children’s organization. Thursday morning began with the Turkey judging and show. We then prepared buyer programs for the market sale. That evening was a late evening, assisting with the registration and paperwork for the buyers for the sale. It was awesome to get the behind the scenes of running a successful youth fair and sale.

On Friday, I helped with checking the cattle and sheep and setting up the temporary fence. We then got materials ready for the workshop day that we would be attending the next day. Nina and I then traveled with Jeff to the Forsythe’s farm to measure and draft a barn layout for future research they are doing at the farm. Our week ended on Saturday with helping set up and conduct a Sheep producer workshop in Charles County, where our agents provided information on grazing practices, nutrition, and animal health. We also heard from the county agent about financial resources for sheep producers and had a panel of sheep producers share their experiences and answer questions. I was impressed with the engagement and the attendance during the event. There were sheep producers in attendance with such a large range of ages, experience, and background. These attendees were incredibly motivated, eager to learn, and passionate about the sheep industry. 

This picture is during our weigh and fecal sample day on Monday. Here, Nina, Britney, and I are moving all of the lambs through the handling system to get their weights, body condition scribe, FAMACHA score, fecal samples, and check their well being. 

This photo is of Nina and I hammering fencing in to set up a strip in the Annual pasture.

These two photos were taken on Thursday, during the Turkey show and judging at the Washington County fair, where I along with the members learned a lot about turkey handling. 

This photo was take on Wednesday of the Washington County Fair. This was during the dairy steer show, where Nina and I helped in the show ring.