Melissa Jo Reed Iowa State University Extension Wapello County Office 4-H and Youth Programming Intern May 14 th – August 3 rd, 2007

Program Areas ● Families ● Community & Economic Development ● Business & Industry ● Continuing & Distance Education ● Agriculture & Natural Resources ● 4-H and Youth Development  Helping kids and teens develop communication skills, give back to their communities and learn to be leaders for Iowa's future.

4-H and Youth Development ● 127,967 youth were involved in 4-H community clubs, special interest groups, school, enrichment, and other programs. Nearly one in four Iowa school-age youth participate in 4-H youth programs. ● 12,247 youth and adult volunteers contributed their time and expertise to help youth learn life skills. ● Through the State 4-H Youth Conference service projects, Iowa's Promise Youth grants, and Pioneer Community Improvement grants, 3,511 adults and youth contributed 8,737 volunteer hours of community service.

Wapello County ● Wapello County Extension is located in Ottumwa. ● Office Employees  Extension Director  Administrative Assistant  2 Office Assistants, 2 other Interns  Horticulturist  4-H and Youth Development  Nutritionist  Community Specialist  Livestock Field Specialist  Crop Field Specialist  Family Specialist

My Cooperator ● Ginger Smith  County 4-H and Youth Coordinator ● Sue Henderson  Extension Director  Wapello and Monroe

Securing the Job ● Start Looking...  Career Fair  Local Options ● Talk to people you know in area businesses ● Options  Cargill Meat Solutions  Cargill Animal Nutrition  Premium Standard Farms  Genex, Co.  Nebraska Pork Partners  Wapello County Extension

Initial Expectations ● 4-H Youth ● Youth Day Camps ● File Papers ● Data Entry ● Secretarial Work ● 4-H Expo ● Work with Judges ● Meet on Committees ● Interact with 4-H Clubs & Individuals ● Work on Communication Skills Hoping to...Knew I would...

What Actually Happened! ● Personal Projects & Responsibility ● Youth Development Training ● Youth Day Camp Instructor ● Personal Interviews with potential program donors ● Clothing and Fashion Event ● Leader Meeting ● Royalty Pageant ● WAPELLO COUNTY 4-H EXPO

Wapello County 4-H Expo ● First-ever 100% air-conditioned “County Fair” in Iowa ● Held in the Bridge View Center located in downtown Ottumwa, IA ● 11 4-H Clubs, 320 County Youth ● Fundraising, Planning, Executing the event  Exhibition Hall ● 10 Species  5 Meeting Rooms  Theatre  Lobby

My Animal Science Internship ● Beef Science ● Swine Science ● Sheep Science ● Poultry Science ● Communication ● Marketing ● Sales ● Customer Service ● Iowa Pork Producers Association ● Iowa Cattleman's Association ● Iowa Sheep Industry Council ● Iowa Egg Council ● Iowa Hatcheries ● New Alliance Farm Service & John Deere

The Bad, The Good ● 1 st Year Coordinator ● Return 4-H Member  Youth  Committee & Adults ● 1 st Job  Stressful Office Environment ● Other Interns ● So many different areas of extension ● 4-H Experience ● Close to Home  Animals  Family

Questions?