Each summer, the Wright County Iowa State University Extension Office hires a summer intern to help them through the season. This year they are excited to have Phoebe Sanders join their team.
Sanders was actively involved in the Wright County 4-H program for nine years. Over the years she participated in clothing events, Share the Fun, and exhibited livestock. But what she cherished most wasn’t the competition or the ribbons, but the friends she made along the way.
“I think what I enjoyed most about 4-H was the relationships I built. Some of my most valuable memories are with my 4-H friends showing livestock. The relationships you build with people in this organization are second to none,” she said.
She also participated in the FFA program throughout her high school career at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows. She has just completed her freshman year at Iowa State University where she is majoring in Agriculture Business with an option in Advertising and Marketing. Now that she is home for the summer, Sanders is excited to once again be involved with the local youth 4-H program, but in a different role serving as an intern helping the next generation of exhibitors.
“I chose to be an intern at the Extension Office because I think the staff in Wright County, as well Iowa State Extension as a whole, wants to see people succeed,” she explained. “It is a great environment to work in and I have already learned so much this summer.” Sanders added that she thinks her past experience with 4-H has been a huge benefit in this position, “but there is so much more to Extension than just 4-H.”
Her main responsibilites have been to help work out the details for the COVID-revised Wright County Fair, planning camps to take place later in the summer, and helping in many other roles.
“It is so much fun to be able to help a program, and business, that gave so much to me while I was a youth exhibitor. Some of my favorite memories have been in the barn with my family, and it is an amazing experience to be able to be a little part in a big program that gives other youth the same opportunity,” said Sanders.
