Cooperative Extension Service announces 2024 county agent summer interns
Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
May 30, 2024
Fast Facts:
- 15 college students from Arkansas to participate in 10-week paid summer program
- Internship program reinstated in 2021
- Students will work in 4-H, agriculture, FCS program areas
(1,911 words)
(Newsrooms: With photos)
LITTLE ROCK — College students interested in careers as extension agents have the opportunity to experience agriculture, 4-H and family and consumer sciences programming through the Cooperative Extension Service’s 10-week, paid summer internship.
The Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach and education arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, announced the return of an internship program for college students in 2021.
“This is our third cohort for the County Extension Agent summer internship program,” said Carla Due, extension Ouachita District Director for the Division of Agriculture. “We are excited they will have the opportunity to see what it is to be a county extension agent and how they serve the citizens of their community.”
Due said that from the past two cohorts, several interns were later hired as county extension agents or program assistants.
“The purpose of this program is to introduce these interns to what it is like to be a county extension agent and hopefully pique their interest in becoming an agent when they graduate,” Due said.
Due and Jerry Clemons, Hot Spring County extension agriculture agent for the Division of Agriculture, selected 15 students from Arkansas universities. Interns began the program May 20 and will finish July 26.
Natasha Hightower, who served as a 4-H intern in Washington County last year, will return to the county as an agriculture intern. Hightower said she was already familiar with extension before her first internship, having spent 11 years in 4-H, the youth development program operated by the Cooperative Extension Service.
“My advice to this group of interns would be don’t be afraid to speak up,” Hightower said. “Take the opportunity to step outside of your focus program and go to meetings or events that don’t seem ‘fun.’ Taking these opportunities can open doors and give you insights into topics you would have been unaware of before.”
John Anderson, senior associate vice president of extension for the Division of Agriculture, addressed the 2024 interns at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center on May 20. Anderson told students that in extension, “we are about developing human capital.”
“That’s what we do,” Anderson said. “We train people. We educate people. We create knowledge and impart that to people to make their lives better, and that’s what we’re doing right here with your internship.”
Anderson encouraged the interns to communicate with their county’s constituents and pay attention to “what problems you are hearing? What questions do they have? What concerns are there that we don’t have the resources to address?”
“Those are program areas we’ve got to be into,” Anderson said. “Those are new research projects we can develop. Those are new extension programs we can put together to deliver and answer questions. So be thinking about that in your internship.”
2024 Cooperative Extension Service interns:
Courtland Bean, 21
Program area: Agriculture
County: Cross
Hometown: Forrest City, Arkansas
School: Arkansas State University
Major: Agricultural Business, minor in Plant Science
Year: Rising senior, or entering their senior year
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply for the CES internship program because I want to learn more about
the extension service and how it impacts the agriculture industry and community.”
Selby Best, 22
Program area: Agriculture
County: Drew
Hometown: Hermitage, Arkansas
School: University of Arkansas at Monticello
Major: General Agriculture and Agriculture Business
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I applied for this internship to gain new experiences in the agriculture industry
and connect with people who share the same interests. I hope to gain new information
and experience about the industry and mingle with people who share a common goal!”
Brynna Buhrmester, 22
Program area: Agriculture
County: Garland
Hometown: Bonnerdale, Arkansas
School: Southern Arkansas University
Major: Agriculture Education
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I was in 4-H for 13 years, so it’s something I was very involved in. I was able to
see that fraction of extension work. I applied for this internship so that I could
go more in-depth in the work of extension agents and figure out if this is the career
path I will choose to follow in the future.”
Emma Cook, 20
Program area: 4-H
County: Lonoke
Hometown: Carlisle, Arkansas
School: Southern Arkansas University
Major: Agricultural Education
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply for this internship because I wanted to learn more about the industry
and what all it had to offer. This internship will allow me to grow and be able to
become the best educator I can possibly be. I am most looking forward to meeting new
people and being able to have connections outside of what I already know.”
Shelby Curry, 21
Program area: Family and Consumer Sciences
County: Pulaski
Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas
School: University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply for the CES internship program because this is what I would love
my future career to be! I have volunteered with the Cooperative Extension Service
before, and I absolutely loved it. Many people told me that I would fit right in with
the Cooperative Extension Service and therefore I was interested in pursuing this
opportunity.”
Grayson Freel, 21
Program area: 4-H
County: Clark
Hometown: Bryant, Arkansas
School: Henderson State University
Major: Recreation and Natural Resources
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I did 4-H for 14 years, so I grew up doing it my entire life. I did more of the leadership
side, I was a state officer and state president for Arkansas 4-H. It was a great program
for me, and I just want to give the kids the same experience that I had.”
MaKayla Goins, 20
Program area: Agriculture
County: Stone
Hometown: Mountain View, Arkansas
School: Arkansas Tech University
Major: Agribusiness – Animal Science
Year: Rising junior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I applied for the CES internship program because I have always had a strong interest
in agriculture. This internship will provide me with a look into the field that I
would love to be involved in, while also meeting others who have the same interests
as my own.”
Rose Gunther, 19
Program area: Agriculture
County: Perry
Hometown: Bigelow, Arkansas
School: Arkansas Tech University
Major: Agribusiness, minor in Emergency Management
Year: Rising junior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I applied because I wanted to see what goes on behind the scenes of an agent and
see different aspects of the agriculture industry. This fall I will be classified
as a junior, but it is my second year on campus. I had enough credit from high school
to be a sophomore entering college, but I currently do not know what I would like
to do with my major. I want to see as many aspects of the industry as possible before
choosing where I stay. I might also add that extension has helped me a lot over the
years. I have been in 4-H since Cloverbud status, and I am finishing my final year
in the senior division. There are many things I owe thanks to them for, including
this opportunity to see how they help others.”
Natasha Hightower, 21
Program area: Agriculture
County: Washington
Hometown: Bailey, Arkansas
School: University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Major: Agricultural and Extension Education
Year: Graduate student
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I applied for this internship for the second year in a row because I had a wonderful
experience last year, and I wanted to continue growing my knowledge and networks within
extension. I am most excited this summer to work in the agricultural side of extension,
because agriculture in Washington County differs from what I grew up with in Independence
County. I am lucky enough to be in the same county office this year, so I will be
able to hit the ground running our first week!”
Zackery Holloway, 20
Program area: Agriculture
County: Lonoke
Hometown: Des Arc, Arkansas
School: Arkansas State University
Major: Agribusiness, emphasis in Economics
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“My brother is the county agent for Prairie County. He has had a few different jobs,
but this is the one that satisfies him the most and makes him happiest. Additionally,
I love being able to take research not known outside of the university and bring it
to the people who feed the world. I am looking forward to networking with county agents,
learning how to be an effective consultant, and learning how I can be a better person
in general.”
Allie McConnell, 19
Program area: 4-H
County: Howard
Hometown: Umpire, Arkansas
School: Arkansas Tech University
Major: Agribusiness, emphasis in Animal Science
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I applied to further my experience in the agriculture industry and decide if extension
education is a good fit for me as a career. I am looking forward to making connections
with more amazing people in the agriculture industry.”
Serene Mian, 20
Program area: Family and Consumer Sciences
County: Craighead
Hometown: Bryant, Arkansas
School: University of Central Arkansas
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences
Year: Rising junior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply for the CES internship because I knew it would be a great experience
for my career path. I am really looking forward to learning more about family and
consumer sciences, as well as extension.”
Reagan Mitchell, 19
Program area: Family and Consumer Sciences
County: Pope
Hometown: Russellville, Arkansas
School: Harding University
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences, emphasis in Child Development
Year: Rising sophomore
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply for the CES Internship program to learn more about extension work.
While I’m a child development major, I’m not fully certain about my major and wanted
to learn more about this career path.”
Jaley Pearson, 21
Program area: Agriculture
County: Faulkner
Hometown: Conway, Arkansas
School: Southern Arkansas University
Major: Agriculture Education
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply for the CES internship program because there was no other internship
opportunity that I thought could benefit and educate me in my future career in agriculture
the way the CES internship would. With the amount of outreach and education the program
has to offer, it was first on my list.”
Harley Warren, 21
Program area: 4-H
County: Grant
Hometown: Poyen, Arkansas
School: Southern Arkansas University
Major: Agriculture Education
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“The reason I applied for the CES internship program is to enhance my understanding
of 4H and extension, improve my interpersonal skills, and gain valuable experience
working with children and others. This internship presents a unique chance for me
to grow as an Agriculture Education major, acquire practical experience in a professional
environment, develop new skills, and apply my academic knowledge to real-world scenarios.
I am eager to collaborate with seasoned professionals, engage in meaningful projects,
and make a positive impact within the organization.”
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
@RKHall_
501-671-2061