Final Day of the Internship

Today is the last day of my internship. What a busy summer it has been! Summer camp, 4-H State Congress, the Albemarle County Fair, workshops, Main Street Ag Day meetings...the list goes on and on. I have had the opportunity  to meet so many wonderful people this summer! Whether it was community projects, summer camp, the fair, or summer workshops, I was able to meet so many wonderful children and adults in Charlottesville/Albemarle. I have learned more about 4-H from the adult side of events instead of the youth side. I spent years in 4-H and was very involved in different clubs and events however when you are the one planning, buying supplies for, and running an event it is VERY different than being the participant. I was lucky enough to have help from many awesome people around the office. Karrin has helped me with so much this summer and I have learned a lot just from watching what all she does. Whether it is just learning from her organizational skills or figuring out that all camp preparation can be completed 3 days before summer camp begins...I have learned what all a 4-H agent does during the summer and how passionate an agent has to be about 4-H to devote almost all their time to 4-H. I'm sure this school year will be just as great as the summer was!
I have been lucky enough to have another intern around the office this summer which was a lot of fun! Morgan was the FCS/ANR intern and we had the opportunity to work together for a few projects this summer and I had a lot of fun getting to know her!
This summer I really enjoyed working in the office with Nancy, Ian, Cat, Kathy, Karrin, Carrie, Alicia, Ellie, and the many master gardeners that came in each week. Not only was I able to see how an extension office runs, I was able to see people work together to make every event possible. The diverse topics that Virginia Cooperative Extension offers knowledge, help, and advice in is amazing and VCE is such an awesome resource to have statewide. I did an internship last summer with VCE in Greene County and between the two summers I have spent involved in 4-H I have realized how rewarding being a 4-H agent can be. Sure, it is stressful at times, but the number of children's lives you impact and help learn about farming, nutrition, life skills, public speaking, and so much more is awesome. Children look up to 4-H agents and I can't wait to see if one day I will have to opportunity to become a 4-H agent and impact children's lives just as I've seen every other 4-H agent do. This summer has been AWESOME! :)

Most of our awesome office staff! :)