Kaitlyn Deaner

 

Leon the bunny, who we had brought to an elementary school! Super cute.

This week was pretty interesting! Starting on Monday after our weekly connection, April and I went to an elementary school for one of their fun days to introduce her goats and a bunny to the children, allowing them to pet some of the animals and learn a bit more about their life cycles. I was able to help with handling the rabbit and goat. Many kids brought up their own animals at home, especially if they also had a rabbit or goat. 

I’ve been doing some tasks in the Cecil County office throughout the week. On Tuesday, I spent some hours cleaning egg incubators from the embryology classes UME provides to kindergarten and 7th-grade classes across the county. Additionally, I counted ribbons from the Breeder’s Fair we had during my first week for inventory purposes. On Wednesday, April helped me with some of the IRB paperwork for my research project, just to make sure I was keeping in line with the guidelines. I also reviewed some of the Breeder’s Fair awards, checking to ensure everyone was receiving the correct amount for their places. 

Thursday and Friday were focused on the Cecil County Fair (CCF). On Thursday, I attended the fair board meeting. At UMD, I’ve had my fair share of event planning, however, it’s interesting to see how much planning and effort goes into organizing an event of this scale. I’ve gone nearly every year since I was a child, and I never thought about how much goes into ensuring the event is successful and safe for everyone. Finally, on Friday, I started revising some of the written exams we give to 4-H members during the CCF.

Communication has been key to this internship, especially when it comes to the different audiences I’ve encountered. When I’m working in elementary schools, I have to use language that’s understandable for them. For example, throughout all of the elementary schools, we’ve focused on using easier vocabulary and engaging activities to help educate students. We can tell that we’ve communicated successfully since many of the kids ask relative questions and provide their own experiences with animals at home. On the other hand, when I’m working with my colleagues, I have to be clear, concise, and direct. For instance, when I’m teleworking, I’ll typically email April my updates, plans, and any questions I may have for the day. April is always responsive and will provide me with some direction on what I should be doing, which is my goal when I send these updates. 

Overall, this week was exciting! I can’t wait to see what next week holds. 

Some of the egg incubators that I had cleaned earlier this week.