My name is Lauren Settles and I
have had the opportunity to intern with the Daviess County Cooperative
Extension Service this summer. I
am currently a senior at the University of Kentucky studying Plant and Soil
Science with minors in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics. Being able to come home to Daviess
County and intern with the Cooperative Extension Service has made for a great
summer. I have been able to return
home and spend time with family and friends while also pursuing an excellent
internship.
The Cooperative Extension
Internship Program has given me many opportunities not only this summer, but
also the past two summers. In the
summer of 2013, I had the opportunity to intern with the Henderson County
Cooperative Extension Service. In
the summer of 2014, I interned with Dr. Chad Lee, the Grain Crops Specialist
for the University of Kentucky.
Working with the Cooperative Extension Service for the past three
summers has led me to many educational opportunities and has prepared me for a
career in the agricultural industry.
The Cooperative Extension Service
plays a big role in every sector of the agricultural industry. I have been fortunate enough to work in
all program areas of Cooperative Extension during my internships and see how
each program area contributes to not only the agricultural community, but also
the community as a whole. I have
been able to be involved with and attend many programs this summer in the
Daviess County Cooperative Extension Office including 4-H Camp at Dawson Springs,
cooking classes, 4-H day camps, the Daviess County Lions Club Fair, agricultural
meetings, and many more activities.
Although I have been working in all
program areas of Cooperative Extension, my focus area this summer has been agriculture
and natural resources. I have been
fortunate enough to shadow Clint Hardy, the Daviess County Cooperative
Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, and learn what he does
in his role. While working with
Clint this summer, I have planted Daviess County research and demonstration
plots, attended University of Kentucky field days at the Princeton Research
Station, assisted with agricultural programs such as the Farm Succession
Seminar, and visited many farms in Daviess County. One of my favorite aspects of the Cooperative Extension
Service is being able to work with many people throughout the community,
majority of those being farmers.
Growing up on a family farm in Stanley,
KY gave me an appreciation for all the hard work agriculturalists carry throughout
the community every day. Without
the dedication they have, people would not have food to put on their plates
every evening, fuel to put in their cars, etc. Knowing this is the main reason I decided to study and pursue
a career in the agricultural industry.
I wanted to be able to contribute to all the hard work being done daily
and advocate the industry that I grew up around, so what better way to get a
head start than to intern with the Cooperative Extension Service.
This summer I have been able to
advocate agriculture through my internship project, which has been an event
called “Ag Appreciation Night”.
Throughout the summer the Davies County Cooperative Extension Service
along with the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and the Daviess County
Farm Bureau have been planning “Ag Appreciation Night” to take place at Friday
After 5. This event is being held in efforts to show and explain how
big of a role the agricultural industry plays just right here in the Daviess
County/Owensboro area. There will
be many agricultural businesses from right here in Daviess County making their
presence to show what they do for the community. I cannot wait to post about how big of a success this event was!
In conclusion, I would like to say
thank you to the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service for such a great
summer. Working with Clint and all
of the staff at the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service has helped me
gain experiences and skills that will benefit me in my future career.
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