Providing an experiential learning opportunity through an Extension animal science internship

Summer is a busy time for Extension programs and includes several activities, such as 4-H youth programs and producer meetings. Three years ago, the Arkansas Extension Animal Science Department started offering an internship opportunity for students. The internship occurs for 12 weeks with salary compensation and housing (if needed). Monies for the internship are provided by both the department and Extension ANR Associate Director. Applications are accepted in the spring (resume, cover letter, and 3 references), interviews are held for the top 3-5 applicants, and then an intern is selected. Year 1 and 2 yielded 11 applicants each year and year 3 generated 22. Interns spend the summer assisting faculty with youth programs, adult programs, and research projects. They are not assigned to one particular faculty member, but have the opportunity to gain experiences from all faculty members.Mid-way through the internship and at the end of the internship, an evaluation is sent to both the intern and faculty members to assess the mid- and overall performance of the intern. Some notable results from the intern evaluations include: 75% had moderate or large improvement in written and oral communication skills and 100% had a large improvement in general knowledge of Extension. All interns indicated that tasks assigned were challenging, but attainable; they believe the internship was excellent and would definitely recommend to others; they are more interested to work for Extension as a result of the internship; and believe the internship is a very valuable educational experience. From the faculty perspective, having an intern is very valuable. An intern allows for more things to get done in a timely manner. Suggestions for improvement are for more interns to be hired. Internships are a great way to expose students to Extension and what the Animal Science Department offers.