College and Major: Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment, Sustainable Biomaterials and Packaging

Hometown: Henagar, Alabama

Career Goals: My goal after I graduate is to go into sustainable, preferably compostable, packaging design, but I am open to wherever my experience at Auburn takes me.

Hobby or Fun Fact: I am vice president of Plant Based Plainsman, a group that encourages and advocates for plant-based eating on campus. I am also secretary for the Sustainable Biomaterials and Packaging Society, a group that promotes my major and hosts events for career development.

Follow Alysha’s Internship Journey

June 14

On May 30 and 31, I traveled to Noccalula Falls Park in Etowah County and helped conduct the 2024 Alabama 4-H state forestry contest. This program sets up youth to be able to read topographic maps and understand the features the map provides, read a compass and be able estimate distance on the ground between two points by pacing, identify native trees, identify insects and diseases that often affect forestry operations, and measure trees to estimate how many logs and board feet could be harvested from standing trees. In the weeks leading up to the event, I created the forestry quiz, a true/false and multiple choice quiz that determines the rankings for the Forestry Knowledge Bowl. I went through the manual and the past year’s questions to find questions that could be used for the Forestry Knowledge Bowl. I also helped prepare all other contest materials, including scoresheets, answer keys, name tags, and equipment. While at the event, I helped set up the contest site, administered the forestry quiz, helped administer the topographic map interpretation section, led an activity with youth, and distributed awards.

On June 13 and 14, I traveled to Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park in Bibb County and helped conduct the 2024 Alabama Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) state contest. The content for this program is all about wildlife species and their habitat. Youth learn how to identify native species by specimens, photographs, or replicas, what items in nature comprise a species’ diet, and preferred habitat of these animals. After learning this, the youth learn how to create a wildlife management plan by taking into consideration the wildlife’s needs—such as preferred habitat, necessary food, water intake, and other needs—and turning those needs into recommendations as to how to improve an area to either increase or decrease a species’ population. For the contest, I selected wildlife species for identification, helped develop an Urban Written Management Plan, planned out the schedule and venue space for the event, and directed an educational activity for the youth participants to learn more about fish and their habitat.

These two events taught me how much work, planning, and time management is necessary to have such a large event. These two statewide contests happened within two weeks of each other and while the 2024 4-H Biggest Catch Contest was happening. This meant I was working across many projects at once. I also got to see the impact these programs had on the youth. They knew so much about both forestry and wildlife and enjoyed getting to compete with groups about topics they were passionate about. All the participants had learned skills that set them up for success in both an educational and future workplace setting. Through these experiences, not only did I get to interact with youth from all over the state, but I also got to meet and work with staff from Extension offices statewide.

June 3

From May 24 to June, I helped put on the 2024 4-H Biggest Catch Contest, which provided statewide opportunities for youth to go fishing and create native fish art. Youth got to experience local water bodies, catch fish, and identify their fish. If they entered the art category, they got to study the fish of their choosing and develop a masterpiece showcasing it. During the event, I created social media posts to help promote the contest, helped manage contest entries, created participant certificates, organized awards, judged fish art submissions, and helped identify contest category winners. The winners of the fish art category received a piece of block print art, so I created a meet the artist card so they could see more about the person who created their prize. This entire experience taught me how important organization is to get the work done. Through screening entries and verifying the correct fish species of each category, I also had to learn the identifiable traits of native fish species.

May 22

The past few weeks I have been extremely busy. I completed two water monitoring courses on Canvas, which helped me gain a better understanding of water chemistry, the different types of bacteria that can be harmful to our waters, and how to be active with Alabama Water Watch. After I completed the courses, I visited a local water body and learned how to collect water samples and conduct different tests to measure pH, alkalinity, hardness, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. I was also able to analyze and interpret bacteriological data for the creek, which had high levels of E. coli present. Now, I am officially certified as an Alabama Water Watch monitor to do chemical and bacteriological testing. Over the summer, I aim to monitor sites that need recent data and learn more about how to improve these waterways.

On June, to continue my community involvement with local watersheds, I participated in the Moore’s Mill Creek Public Meeting on campus. At this meeting, I learned more about how different groups of people, including residents and partners of the organization, are coming together in the watershed to monitor and create solutions to improving the water quality as it is currently below standard.

College and Major: Auburn University College of Agriculture, Agricultural Science

Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Career Goals: Upon graduation, I plan to attend graduate school. I am interested in a career that allows me to combine my love of plants and people with my passion for photography.

Hobby or Fun Fact: I am pursuing a minor in photography at Auburn University. In my free time, I shoot and develop film and digital photos. When I’m not in the studio, I enjoy getting outside and exploring local areas, hiking, and kayaking with friends.

Follow Morgan’s Internship Journey

May 20 — June 10

My experience these first weeks with Alabama Cooperative Extension has been a blast! I’ve gotten to learn a lot and meet great people while shadowing my mentors. I was able to go to a local producer’s farm and scout his plants for pests and disease. I really enjoyed getting to know more about him and what he does on his farm. I learned about bacterial wilt and made an educational video for those interested in learning more about what they can do to manage this disease. I visited Bellingrath Gardens and was able to get a behind-the-scenes tour after helping their horticulture team. With the help of my mentors, I’ve been putting together a mock trial with triploid watermelon seeds, seeing the effect H₂O₂ has on their germination. This has been a really cool process because I’ve gotten to see what the research process looks like in the real world. I’ve gotten to sit in on some very impactful consultations with my mentor with groups, like the local youth detention center and a veteran recovery nonprofit. Through these consultations I was able to see the ways in which agriculture has the potential to help those in need.

When I’m not working on my projects, I’ve been able to help out with 4-H events, like Ag Safety Day, and write and teach curriculum for a Build-A-Burger workshop. One weekend, I even volunteered to chick sit and take eight super-cute chicks home, taking care of them while their 4-H family was away. This was a super fun way to get my family involved with my internship and give them a glimpse into the world of ag. The biggest thing I’ve learned at the start of this internship is no day with Alabama Extension is the same! There’s always people to help and research to be done, which is what is at the heart of ACES’ mission.

College and Major: Auburn University College of Human Sciences, Nutrition/Dietetics

Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama

Career Goals: I would love to work in chronic disease prevention. My dream is to be a diabetes educator and become a registered dietitian.

Hobby or Fun Fact: My favorite hobbies include singing and playing guitar. Music is such a good stress-reliever, and I absolutely love it. If I was not studying nutrition, I probably would have done something music related.

Follow Janie’s Internship Journey

May 30

So far, one of my favorite parts of my internship has been helping out at the Extension table at the Phenix City Farmers Market. We offered many free resources from cooking books to gardening resources and supplies that individuals could take home. Our table included Extension members across many disciplines, from agriculture to nutrition. ­My favorite part of the entire experience was having one-on-one discussions with the visitors, who were excited to talk all things gardening, nutrition, and cooking. I offered some of my personal nutrition and gardening knowledge and many people were excited to learn something new!

Engaging in these conversations is honestly my favorite part of Extension work. No matter where we travel, there are always conversations to be had and people who are more than willing to learn something new, as well as teach us! It makes my day to see how excited individuals are to talk about their passions and learn from the resources we provide. What a gift to be part of Extension!