Emily Johnson as a summer intern for the past ten weeks

NC Cooperative Extension, Lenoir County Center was delighted to host Emily Johnson as a summer intern for the past ten weeks and is proud to share her experiences and accomplishments. Throughout the summer, Emily has built lasting relationships, gained indispensable knowledge, and contributed to her community working closely with the 4-H program. (photo by N.C. State Extension)

KINSTON, N.C. — NC Cooperative Extension, Lenoir County Center was delighted to host Emily Johnson as a summer intern for the past ten weeks and is proud to share her experiences and accomplishments. Throughout the summer, Emily has built lasting relationships, gained indispensable knowledge, and contributed to her community working closely with the 4-H program.

Welcome to the Team

Emily Johnson, a Lenoir County native, is finishing up her senior year at North Carolina State University majoring in Agricultural and Life Sciences and minoring in Animal Science and Agribusiness Management. Working closely with her supervisor Abbigail Wells, Emily experienced hands-on learning, youth development practices, and many firsts while working with the 4-H program. The workplace welcomed Emily in for the summer with a culture that emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving, and a balance between getting things done while having fun.

Community through Hands-On Learning

Through her internship, Emily assisted with a variety of 4-H camps that showcased her skills and determination. 

• A sense of community: Overall, Emily was active in her community throughout her time in Lenoir County. Emily spent a lot of her time with the Junior Master Gardener camp and helped at the senior center teaching the residents all about herbs! She also gained a community with her work environment and the parents of the youth. This allowed her to be fully engulfed in her internship. 

• Assisted in 4-H education: Emily spent her summer teaching the youth about agriculture related topics. She even got the opportunity to lead her own dairy camp, where she taught the youth all about the dairy industry. She was determined to create a curriculum that was both engaging and educational.

• Technical Skills: Emily gained a better understanding of how things are run behind the scenes. She has deepened her knowledge of using spreadsheets and her organizational skills have grown. She has used these skills to stay organized in her planning for camps throughout the summer. She created spreadsheets and advertisements diligently. 

Personal and Professional Growth

This internship not only allowed Emily to develop skills in content creation, communicating with the community, and advertisement, but it also furthered her knowledge for 4-H and deepened her love for teaching agriculture. Through hands-on experiences in different fields of extension, she gained a well-balanced knowledge of each program area in the Lenoir County Extension office.

Meaningful Connections and Future Opportunities

The relationships Emily built between the staff, the kids, and the parents was one of the most rewarding parts of her internship. These connections will continue to grow and have enhanced her understanding of the communities dedication and passion to providing education to the youth in 4-H. 

A Bright Future Ahead 

Emily expressed her gratitude for the experience at Lenoir County Extension Office, stating “This internship has truly painted a picture of my personal and professional life. The connections and the knowledge I have gained will continue with me in my future endeavors in the agriculture and extension community.” Emily believes that she has a bright future in extension and is thrilled to start that journey.

–Emily Johnson, N.C. State Extension