LITTLE ROCK — As college students prepare to enter the workforce, those with a passion for agriculture and helping others are searching for hands-on ways to apply their skills. The Cooperative Extension Service recently created a new learning opportunity for students at this intersection of interests.
In late 2021, extension announced the reinstitution of an internship program for college students interested in pursuing careers as extension agents. Extension’s three district directors, Carla Due, Kevin Lawson, and Jerry Clemons, selected 11 interns from universities in Arkansas and Mississippi for the 10-week paid program. Bob Scott, senior associate vice president for agriculture and extension for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the intern program will help develop the next generation of extension employees.
“We decided to reinstitute an intern program to give college students a chance to experience what a career in extension might be like,” Scott said. He added that while the Division of Agriculture does hope to “identify potential county agents,” Scott also believes it will be an important learning experience regardless of what careers the students choose.
The interns’ main program areas will be 4-H and agriculture, but Scott and Due both said students will take part in all program areas within extension regardless of their major.
Scott directed Due, Lawson and Clemons to develop the internship program. Due said she hoped that the first cohort of students will “become advocates for the work our County Extension Agents do” across all program disciplines. She added that another goal of the program is for the interns to “become a close group that will stay in touch past their college years and network professionally.”
The 11 interns hail from across Arkansas and from Tennessee (by way of Mississippi).
2022 Cooperative Extension Service summer interns:
Atalanta Baker
Program area: 4-H
County: Conway
Hometown: Center Ridge, Arkansas
School: Arkansas Tech University
Major: Agricultural Business and Animal Science
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply to see what great opportunities the extension office offers and to hopefully find my forever home.”
Rayvin Callaway
Program area: Agriculture
County: Cleveland
Hometown: Star City, Arkansas
School: University of Arkansas at Monticello
Major: Double major in Animal Science and Agriculture Business
Year: Rising junior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I applied for the CES internship program because I wanted to learn more about the role extension agents play in their community, county, and state, and work for the 4H members, preparing them to be leaders – one of my passions – and teaching them to believe in themselves and dream big. I also want to continue my learning in agriculture and grow the passion I already have for the industry.”
Brent Clark
Program area: 4-H
County: White
Hometown: El Paso, Arkansas
School: Arkansas State University – Beebe
Major: Agriculture Business
Year: Rising junior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I applied for this internship because I wanted to gain quality work experience in a program that I believe in!”
Rae Dawson
Program area: Agriculture
County: Craighead
Hometown: Signal Mountain, Tennessee
School: Mississippi State University
Major: Agriculture Business
Year: Senior, graduating in December
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“When I heard about the CES internship program through a friend, I knew I had to apply! I am a people-oriented person, and I knew this internship would give me the opportunity to help others while gaining professional experience. I look forward to learning more about what Extension is as a career and making new connections! I’m so thankful for this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to being in Jonesboro for the summer!”
Lensey Ford
Program area: Agriculture
County: White
Hometown: Bismarck, Arkansas
School: Southern Arkansas University
Major: Agriculture Education
Year: Senior, graduating in December
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply for this internship so that I can be immersed in the world of extension. I love agriculture and it is my passion. I wanted to further involve myself in the agriculture world and make many more valuable connections.”
Sarah Gaskin
Program area: 4-H
County: Independence
Hometown: Bald Knob, Arkansas
School: Arkansas State University – Jonesboro
Major: Agriculture Education, minor in Plant Science
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I saw this as an excellent opportunity to have more insight and hands-on experience in my dream career.”
Colton Hewitt
Program area: Agriculture
County: Little River
Hometown: Fouke, Arkansas
School: Southern Arkansas University
Major: Agricultural Education
Year: Rising junior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I applied for the CES internship program because I wanted to learn more about extension and see what extension agents do on a day-to-day basis. I want to see if I would be interested in pursuing a career in extension.”
Belle Richardson
Program area: Agriculture
County: Yell
Hometown: Bluffton, Arkansas
School: Southern Arkansas University
Major: Agriculture Business
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I applied to the CES Internship because I want to be an advocate and leader within the agriculture community. I admire the impact of my county agents, so when I heard about the internship program, I knew I had found my calling.”
Caitlyn Simon
Program area: Agriculture
County: Faulkner,
Hometown: Conway, Arkansas
School: University of Arkansas
Major: Agricultural Systems Technology, minor in Agribusiness
Year: Rising junior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I applied for the CES internship program for several reasons. I always knew my local county extension agents growing up and didn’t truly understand or know what they did, but I always thought they had a fun job. I have grown up in the agriculture industry my whole life, and after college I plan to find a job in the agriculture industry where I can help make a difference for farmers. I am very excited to be an Extension intern this summer and learn about agriculture from a different perspective.”
Stephanie Ward
Program area: 4-H
County: Lonoke
Hometown: Beebe, Arkansas
School: Associates of Science from Arkansas State University – Beebe, heading to Arkansas State University Jonesboro in the fall to finish bachelors
Major: Agricultural Education
Year: Rising junior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I applied for this internship because I wanted to widen the variety of experience I will have when I graduate and look for a full-time job. I worked in the plant pathology department last summer in Lonoke and learned a lot, and I figured it would be just as fun and educational to try something new too!”
Anna White
Program area: Agriculture
County: Miller
Hometown: Greenbrier, Arkansas
School: Southern Arkansas University
Major: Agriculture Education
Year: Senior, graduating in December
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I’ve been wanting to be an extension agent for a few years now, and this internship will be the perfect opportunity to do that. I’m really excited to start!”