Kendal Widman, a sophomore majoring in Animal Science at Ohio State ATI, is interning at the Seneca County Extension Office, where she is working directly with local youth through 4-H and other outreach programs. This allows her to help young people build life skills through agriculture-based learning. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see young people grow in confidence and knowledge, especially when they’re showing animals or presenting their projects at the fair,” Kendal shared. Whether she is helping 4-H members prepare livestock shows or instructing them through educational projects, she is also gaining more valuable experiences in leadership and communication. 

The project that makes her proudest of herself so far was aiding in the organization of 4-H camp at Kelley’s Island. She helped to plan activities for the campers, coordinate supplies, and she will also help assist with sessions at the camp. “I’m excited to see how much fun the kids will have and with the hopes that parents will give positive feedback which will really make me feel like I have made a difference and a positive impact on their child’s life!” Kendal said. Her commitment to giving campers meaningful and memorable camp experiences showcases her leadership, creativity, and genuine care for the 4-H youth.

Some advice that she wants to share with students that are hoping to do something similar “Get involved early with student organizations or volunteer with 4-H if you can. Don’t be afraid to apply, even if you don’t feel 100% qualified.” More advice that she gives is internships like these are all about learning. Just be open to all the experiences that are given to you and ask all the questions you can. 

Kendal’s summer experiences are a great example of how ATI students are using their education to aid themselves and others. 

Emma Givens, a livestock production and management with a swine specialization graduate, is spending her summer with Hord Family Farms in Bucyrus, Ohio. Emma is diving deep into the swine industry as a pig production specialist intern. She’s gaining hands-on experience that’s not only expanding her skills but also changing her future plans.  

“I was excited to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to the real world,” Emma said. “But this experience has shown me just how much more there is to learn, and how passionate I am about this field.” 

In fact, her internship has been so impactful that she’s decided to transition to the Columbus campus to pursue a degree in animal sciences, a path she did not see herself taking. “This solidified my decision to pursue a career in swine production,” she shared. “It confirmed that this is the right path for me.” 

One of her proudest accomplishments of the internship so far has been taking full responsibility for day-one piglet care—a fast paced, detail-heavy task involving everything from checking sows and assisting with farrowing, to processing piglets and logging detailed records. “It was difficult to learn at first, especially with how large the facility is. There are 10 farrowing rooms with 48 crates each. But I’m proud of how quickly I picked it up,” Emma said.  

Emma’s learning isn’t over yet! She’ll be conducting a research project tracking sow feed intake and body condition from late gestation through weaning. The goal of the project is to help determine how much feed is needed to maintain optimal health.  

With her boots on the ground and her goals set high, Emma is proving that hard work, curiosity, and the courage to take on new challenges can truly shape her future. 

Seth Richardson, a recent Ohio State ATI graduate from Springfield, Ohio, who studied agricultural communication, is spending his summer in London, Ohio, as a marketing intern with Farm Science Review.  

For Seth, the highlight of his internship has been learning to fly drones. “Flying a drone seemed really difficult at the beginning,” he said. “It’s a bit nerve-racking if you’ve never been around it. But the first day I flew with my supervisor, I knew I was all in. That moment gave me the confidence to pursue my license, and I’ve loved every second since.” 

Through his work, Seth is gaining experience capturing video and photos of agricultural equipment—exactly what he hopes to do after completing his bachelor’s degree at the Columbus campus.  

Seth’s path to this internship wasn’t linear. “I changed my major three times,” he said. “But ATI helped me realize that marketing was what I enjoyed most. The support I had on campus made all the difference.” Now, he’s found a major, and a career direction, that truly excites him.  

This summer Seth has goals: to build his skills as a confident, creative drone operator and to earn his drone license. Whether it’s marketing agriculture events or flying his drone over fields, Seth is proving when you find your passion, the sky’s the limit.