Agriculture & Natural Resources

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Our program provides agriculture related education, training and technical assistance to individuals and businesses.

University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Food and Environment Internship Frequently Asked Question Q: What is the Cooperative Extension Service (“Extension”)? A: Extension is an external teaching arm of University of Kentucky. It has a specific range of topics that educators teach. These include agriculture and natural resources, family consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, and rural and community development. There is an Extension presence in each county of the state (120 counties). Q: What will be my responsibility as an intern? A: The objective of the internship is to provide an opportunity for the students to experience the work that Extension professionals perform. Interns will be asked to plan and teach programs at the local level under the supervision of an Extension Agent. Q: What county will I be assigned to if accepted? A: Interns will be matched with counties based on host counties or hosting departments. Interns will not be placed in counties in which they have a relative who is employed by Extension or the University or who is on the county’s Extension District Board. Q: Do I have to attend University of Kentucky to be eligible for an Extension intern position? A: No, eligible participants must be currently enrolled in any academically accredited college or university. It does not have to be University of Kentucky. See below for additional information concerning eligibility. Q: Do I have to be an agriculture major? A: While we prefer students who are majoring in disciplines in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources or College of Human Sciences (see Agent degree requirements here), we are not limiting selections to these colleges. Students from Education, Arts and Sciences, etc. could be considered. The student should be majoring in a subject that is related to the programs

 

2023 Internship Flyer

 

Q: Will the work week be limited to Monday through Friday? Will I have every weekend off? A: Interns’ work schedules will generally be the same as Agents or Specialists. Many weeks EXCEED 40 hours per week. There will be regular night and weekend work. Take the lead from your supervising Agent of Specialist. Q: How much will each intern be paid? A: Interns will be paid $2,880 a month. Q: Will I receive academic credit for this internship? A: Credit for this internship is a matter to be determined by the student and his or her academic institution. Q: Are there funds to help with living arrangements in the counties? A: In general, there are no funds to help with living expenses in the counties. There are living arrangements for out-of-state interns in certain counties. Additionally, interns being placed in Promise Zone or similar counties may be supplied with housing. When applying, list counties that are within a reasonable driving distance from locations in the state where you have secured housing. Q: What are the qualifications for the internship position? A: Minimum requirement: Interns should be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited college or university, have at least a 2.75 GPA, and have earned at least 60 credit hours at the time of application. Q: Are there other requirements or opportunities? A: Interns will complete an exit interview, which will include a process similar to an annual performance appraisal. This formative evaluation will assist in future internship programs and intern future employment. Interns will complete a special project under the supervision of their Agent or Specialist. Interns will attend 4-H camp. Q: Are there behavioral expectations? A: Interns are expected to act as professionals in the community/county where they complete their internship. To this end, the student will be expected to meet the standards of professionalism and to comply with all University of Kentucky and Cooperative Extension Service policies. Q: When will I know if I get an internshi

 

What Is Agriculture and Natural Resources?

County Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) Agents serve as the link between people in Kentucky counties and experts at the universities. They provide informal education in any area related to agriculture or natural resources based on the county needs. They coordinate and provide formal educational programs for the public through meetings, workshops, field days, personal communications, and web or satellite broadcasts. Agents also provide educational materials such as publications, newsletters, computer programs, and videos. All Extension ANR programs are part of the outreach program of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. County agents develop and implement these ANR programs in their counties. Extension programs make a difference in the lives of millions of Kentuckians through research-based education. So, whether you are a commercial-scale farmer, a backyard gardener, an outdoor enthusiast, or anything in between, Extension ANR agents can help you grow your food, understand the food system, and protect the environment. Stop by the Marshall County Extension Office for more information.

Sampling & Identification Services

We offer a wide variety of agriculture and horticulture related testing and identification services.

More Information

Roxanne Lee

Extension Assistant, 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Science

(270) 527-3285 rle273@uky.edu Marshall County Extension Office 1933 Mayfield Hwy Benton, Kentucky 42025-0658

Nicole Rhein

Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources

(270) 527-3285 nikki.rhein@uky.edu Marshall County Extension Office 1933 Mayfield Hwy Benton, Kentucky 42025-0658

 

Meet your Agent!

Nicole (aka Nikki) grew up in Belleville Illinois on a small pecan tree farm. After graduating with her Bachelors of Agronomy Degree from Murray State University, Nikki was hired as a Sales Agronomist for Hutson John Deere. She spent two years with Hutson, helping farmers make agronomic decisions. Then in 2014, Nikki accepted a position with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and has been serving Marshall County as their Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent ever since. In 2017, Nikki rounded off her education by completing a Master of Science Degree in Agriculture. Now Nikki gets to spend her time doing what she loves best, helping and educating the community. Nikki’s door is always open and she encourages the community to come visit, suggest programming ideas and ask questions! 

 

“My grandfather used to say that once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman and a preacher, but every day, three times a day, you need a farmer.”

Brenda Schoepp

cattle