Filling in the gaps

Though University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension internships are generally provided for upperclassmen, a recent Kimball graduate will begin her first internship this summer, after just completing her freshman year.

During her 2016 annual report to the Kimball County Board of Commissioners, UNL Extension educator Karen DeBoer said that since last fall, Extension Agent Aaron Berger has been serving a state-wide role as an educator in the cattle industry and has relocated to the High Plains Ag lab for the majority of the week to better serve in his new role.

“He is doing a lot more traveling and a lot more presenting at different locations in terms of the economics involved with the beef industry,” DeBoer said. “That assignment is for three years. In the meantime, the University has agreed to provide us with a student to work with the 4-H program.”

The student, Monica Wasielewski, attends the University of Lincoln and is paid entirely by the UNL Extension, according to DeBoer.

Wasielewski is a 2016 Kimball High School graduate active in 4-H and FFA and is currently majoring in agriculture education at UNL.

“The nice thing is that Monica has been through the 4-H program here,” DeBoer said. “The match is really a good one and she is excited about doing this for the summer.”

Wasielsewski is expected to begin in the middle of May and continue for approximately twelve weeks and though 4-H assistant and office manager Erika Loy will be going on maternity leave, Wasielewski will be too busy to cover the office as well.

“We really want her to focus on her internship and her 4-H activity”, DeBoer said. “As part of her internship, she will be doing some programs and workshops for the kids this summer.”

Additionally, DeBoer reported that 4-H educator, Cynthia Gills, is currently presenting the “Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens” to eighth-grade students at Banner County and is planning a college preparatory program called “The Next Chapter,” expected to begin this fall.

“It actually helps students prepare for success in college with some of the soft skills, communication, that kind of thing,” DeBoer said. “Kids that enroll in this program are actually pre-admitted to UNL, but it will help them with any college they choose to attend.”

Though Banner County is the only school Gill is working with, classes are planned for Kimball and Cheyenne counties soon.

“It just depends on administration, and whether they are willing to let us come in and work with the program,” she added. “It has had pretty good results in Banner County.”

DeBoer presented Commissioners with the 2016 annual report including a list of volunteers, financial reports and reports of the varied programs throughout the region.

The UNL Extension continues filling in the gaps with farm safety workshops, winter activities, craft and movie nights and other learning programs throughout the year. For more information on available activities, classes and workshops, contact the local Extension office at 308-235-3122.