This summer has been full of growth and exploration, both personally and professionally. Through my internship with the University of Maryland at WMREC and the Washington County Extension Office, I was immersed in a variety of experiences. All of these opportunities helped to strengthen my agricultural knowledge, increase my communication skills, and contributed to my understanding of being an educator in this field.
Each week brought new challenges, from handling and caring for animals, to organizing events, managing pasture rotations, forage sampling, and trouble shooting electric fencing. I had the opportunity to be heavily involved with my mentors' sheep and cattle co-grazing study. The hands-on tasks taught me practical animal care and data collection skills, while also reinforcing the importance of observation, patience, and adaptability. All of these skills are both professional and practical skills that are essential to be an effective educator.
Beyond the daily tasks, through this internship I discovered how passionate I am about agricultural communication and education. Writing blog posts, creating infographics, and contributing to newsletters helped me to realize that my voice can make a real impact in bridging the gap between agriculture and the community. Working alongside extension professionals, I also saw firsthand the power of community outreach and education. Whether it was helping exhibitors at the county fair, assisting with 4H camp, or attending pasture walks and farm tours, I realized how much I value building relationships and sharing knowledge.
Another major thing I learned about myself is that I thrive in roles that combine hands-on work with educational outreach. I enjoy being out in the field as much as I enjoy teaching and working with others. I can see myself in a future career that not only works in agriculture, but advocates and inspires others within it.
As I return to the University of Tennessee this fall to continue my studies in Agricultural Communications, I feel motivated and excited to pursue opportunities that combine technical agriculture and education. Going into this internship my expected career path was to work in extension or a similar field. This internship strengthened my pursuits and excited me for a future of contributing to agriculture through meaningful engagement with the community.
This internship has shown me the kind of educator I want to be and I am excited to keep building on the foundation that this summer has provided!
Tuesday morning we were at WMREC bright and early to work the sheep and cattle before it got too hot! I took this photo around 6:45am as we were bringing the animals from the field and into the handling system.
Each week brought new challenges, from handling and caring for animals, to organizing events, managing pasture rotations, forage sampling, and trouble shooting electric fencing. I had the opportunity to be heavily involved with my mentors' sheep and cattle co-grazing study. The hands-on tasks taught me practical animal care and data collection skills, while also reinforcing the importance of observation, patience, and adaptability. All of these skills are both professional and practical skills that are essential to be an effective educator.
Beyond the daily tasks, through this internship I discovered how passionate I am about agricultural communication and education. Writing blog posts, creating infographics, and contributing to newsletters helped me to realize that my voice can make a real impact in bridging the gap between agriculture and the community. Working alongside extension professionals, I also saw firsthand the power of community outreach and education. Whether it was helping exhibitors at the county fair, assisting with 4H camp, or attending pasture walks and farm tours, I realized how much I value building relationships and sharing knowledge.
Another major thing I learned about myself is that I thrive in roles that combine hands-on work with educational outreach. I enjoy being out in the field as much as I enjoy teaching and working with others. I can see myself in a future career that not only works in agriculture, but advocates and inspires others within it.
As I return to the University of Tennessee this fall to continue my studies in Agricultural Communications, I feel motivated and excited to pursue opportunities that combine technical agriculture and education. Going into this internship my expected career path was to work in extension or a similar field. This internship strengthened my pursuits and excited me for a future of contributing to agriculture through meaningful engagement with the community.
This internship has shown me the kind of educator I want to be and I am excited to keep building on the foundation that this summer has provided!
This week we had the opportunity to learn more about Linden Hall farms practices and help them milk on the evening shift. It was such a fun day getting to milk for my first time and help with some other chores like feeding calves, treating for mastitis, and milking a fresh cow for colostrum.
Linden Hall has a few friendly barn cats so of course I had to take a picture with one of my favorite kittens!
Tuesday morning we were at WMREC bright and early to work the sheep and cattle before it got too hot! I took this photo around 6:45am as we were bringing the animals from the field and into the handling system.
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