From learning about drone technology to urban gardening to livestock care, students from N.C. A&T and universities across the state took an 11-week dive this summer into the varied world of N.C. Cooperative Extension through the Cooperative Extension Student Internship Program.
This year’s program provided 16 students with the opportunity to not only advance their professional careers, but to also learn about the ins and outs of North Carolina’s Extension services. The interns were officially recognized with a ceremony on July 24 at N.C. A&T’s University Pavilion.
“I still remember our first day of onboarding,” Shameca Battle, Ed.D., Eastern regional director for N.C. A&T Extension told the students. “You came in, nervous, perhaps wondering what you would be doing throughout the summer. Despite those first-day jitters, you were ready to embrace every challenge that came your way … you have experienced first-hand the important work that Cooperative Extension performs for this community.”
Caleb Winstead, a sophomore animal science major in N.C. A&T’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, helped create a five-course summer curriculum in Wilson County. He included such activities as a textile burn test and a native-versus-invasive insect test. He also included a scavenger hunt as a means of teaching youth about exciting opportunities in agriculture.
“My project objective was to get more Black youth involved in agriculture, or to help create more Black agribusiness owners,” Winstead said. “Black producers only make up 1.4% of the 3.4 million producers in the United States. Rural Black communities that don’t have well-established farms and don't have self-sufficient local economies."
Exposing youth to agriculture and its value to a variety of businesses is important information to share in creating the next generation of Black farmers, he said.
The interns documented their progress with weekly social media updates during the summer. One of their projects was to create marketing materials for their respective offices on the theme of "AI Can't Do This."
Others gave updates on the soil-free hydroponic kits they planted started during the onboarding process; documented their first experiences harvesting crops or working with livestock; and took viewers along to such places as N.C. Farm School to tell what they were learning.
Grace Erchul, a UNC-Chapel Hill senior who interned with Orange County Extension, shared a “Lunch With Grace” video series documenting her experiences teaching kids about nutrition, drone technology and food security.
“These past few months have flown by, and I’ve learned so much about nutrition education, food access, and honestly, just a lot about myself,” said Erchul. “Every week has brought new experiences, and I’m so grateful for everything I’ve been able to learn.”
Guest speaker John Green, Ph.D., director and professor emeritus at Mississippi State University’s Southern Rural Development Center, told the interns their involvement within the program is part of the “greater plan” of Extension on a national level.
“To think about the opportunities for career pathways, this internship experience will hopefully have helped you continue your education and careers, but it really is a wonderful way to find out what you’re interested in, to get experiences, and to adapt and hopefully to keep an open mind,” said Green.
County agents said that they were impressed with the interns and their work this summer.
Matt Stevens, Pitt County Extension Director for Horticulture, praised N.C. A&T bioengineering major Macaria Mewborn for her efforts with livestock, agriculture and family & consumer science agents.
“Everything we gave Macaria to do, she did well,” said Stevens. “She brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the office. We were thrilled to have her.”
Stacy Burns, Warren County Extension Director, applauded East Carolina University student Chandler Kearsey with “bringing the knowledge she learned from school back home.”
“For the community members and especially the kids, it was a really good opportunity for them to see somebody from their hometown who went to school and shared real-life experience with them,” said Burns.
"Overall, the student interns were provided with a rich experience that they can apply to their learning environments," said Battle. "We look forward to welcoming our next cohort in 2027."
