College and Major: Auburn University College of Human Sciences, Dietetics

Hometown: Citronelle, Alabama

Career Goals: Pursue my master’s degree and become a registered dietitian

Hobby or Fun Fact: I love to cook and figure out how to make an unhealthy dish healthier. I can play the ukelele and know how to sew and macrame. I also have a fiddle leaf fig tree named Gerald.

Follow Arianna’s Internship Journey

June 21 — Blueberry Farm and Brewton Research Center Farm Tour

I had the opportunity to tour the largest blueberry farm in Alabama, Wildfork Farms in Brewton. This was such a fun and memorable experience. I, of course, ate some blueberries while I was there and learned so much!

First, we headed to the fields to see the blueberry picking machine. This machine shakes the blueberries off the bushes and automatically collects them into blueberry buckets, which are then driven to the factory. In the factory, there’s amazing technology where the blueberries are placed on a conveyor belt and pass through a high-tech machine that detects color, texture, and any debris, eliminating unsuitable blueberries into a waste container. After that, the blueberries move to another conveyor belt, where workers handpick any missed debris or bad blueberries.

Next, the blueberries go to another part of the machine where they are portioned and placed into containers called clamshells. Finally, they are packed into boxes and ready for shipment. I also learned more about GAP procedures as Mrs. Rebecca was analyzing the factory and machinery to ensure they are following protocol.

Additionally, I visited the Brewton Research Center farm. It is a beautiful piece of land with a variety of produce, including my favorites: yellow watermelon and sweet corn!

June 13 — Baldwin County Cottage Food Law Fun

Mrs. Rebecca and I hit the road again, heading to the Fairhope Research Center for our final Cottage Food Law class of the summer. I helped set up and met Mrs. Sarah Butterworth, the 4H Extension agent for Baldwin County, who is so kind and helpful. I taught the food safety portion one last time. This was by far my favorite audience. They were so fun and engaging and asked tons of questions. I learned from Mrs. Rebecca that you have to adapt to your audience. Sometimes, they are not engaging, so you have to meet them where they are.

June 11 — Helping with a 4-H Event

I was able to help out the 4H agent, Mrs. Adeline, with a 4H event for the children who received chicks on Chick Day! I practiced my new food safety skills by making hotdogs and scooping out ice cream for the children. After that, I helped set up learning activities with different chicken parts. We all learned about where and how to vaccinate chickens properly. I also got to pass out chicken wings for this activity.

June 6 — Build a Burger

Morgan, the other summer intern for horticulture, and I worked with Mrs. Rebecca Catalena on the Build A Burger group session during Ag Safety Day. It was so much fun! Each of us discussed different parts of the burger and got the children engaged. Afterwards, we had a fun Build A Burger relay that Mrs. Rebecca created. After that, Morgan and I continued helping with the ice cream in a bag activity. It was also great to get to know Morgan better and discuss how the internship has been going for her and all that she has learned from it.

June 4 —Conecuh County Road Trip

Of course, it was another fun day with the fabulous Mrs. Rebecca Catalena! I truly have the best mentor. She makes work so much more enjoyable. Her funny, outgoing character lights up any room. We had a great road trip to Evergreen, Alabama for a cottage food law class. I got to help set up and teach the food safety portion. Mrs. Rebecca has been giving me tips on public speaking, and I’ve learned so much from her. I even managed to share a personal story to help relate to the audience. After the class, we visited the Conecuh Factory Store. It was awesome and is definitely going to be my new halfway stop when traveling to and from Auburn!

May 23 — 4H Chick Day

Such a fun day! I got to help the 4H chicken club members get their new chicks. We talked about all things chickens, and I learned about my new favorite chicken breed: Polish chickens. I also got to know more about Mrs. Mary Joe, who is a 4H Extension agent. She is such a joy and has a big heart for animals and is so wise in plants and landscaping. I learned that she was a Master Gardener for several years and that she was head over a local Mobile garden. I also got a name tag which made me feel more official as a summer intern lol.

May 10 — Southwest SET Quarterly Meeting

As part of my internship, I had the opportunity to attend the Southwest SET Quarterly Meeting at Five Rivers Delta. This meeting is a gathering where all the regional Extension agents and county Extension coordinators come together to discuss barriers or problems they’ve been facing, learn about new policy changes, and explore new methods of operation. Here are a few key takeaways from the meeting:

• Understanding Extension: I learned the importance of knowing what Extension is and its role in the community.
• Speaking Up: The meeting highlighted the value of not being afraid to speak up about certain issues.
• Collaboration: Collaborating with fellow workers is crucial for overcoming challenges.
• Team Building: Finding ways to connect as a team outside of work enhances teamwork and camaraderie.

After the meeting, we went on a boat ride through the Delta, where we learned about some fascinating historical facts, including details about the Battle of Blakeley. It was an informative and enjoyable experience, blending professional development with a bit of local history.

May 9 — pH Research and Hands-On Activities

My fourth day as an intern was a mix of research and hands-on activities. I spent the morning researching more about acidity and pH for canning. I also prepared for the upcoming ServSafe classes by accommodating materials for participants whose first language is Spanish, creating folders with their study materials. In the afternoon, I helped with last-minute educational activities for kids visiting the Extension office. I assisted with an interactive handwashing lesson, using a special glow lotion to represent germs. Mrs. Rebecca set up handwashing visuals around the room and had the kids rotate based on their shirt colors. She used a blue light to show the germs and asked them to guess the correct handwashing order. At the end of the day, we asked the students what they had learned. They were excited to share their new knowledge, from proper handwashing techniques to interesting bee facts from a bee program they attended. It was a fun and engaging day!

May 8 — Office Day

My third day as an Extension intern was all about office work. I got to meet Mrs. Kay, who handles a lot of the behind-the-scenes work at the Mobile County Extension office. One of my tasks was stapling publications for the upcoming Eco Wild workshop this weekend. I also spent some time reading up on pH for canning and cottage food law for a publication that I will be coauthoring. It was interesting diving into these topics and thinking about how to communicate them effectively. Later, I helped Mrs. Rebecca set up for upcoming ServSafe classes. I saw firsthand how organized an Extension agent needs to be, especially when it comes to printing and filing participants’ receipts to track attendance, provide extra verification, and check for any needed accommodations. I also learned about GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) guidelines, which are food safety protocols that farmers must follow. Overall, it was a productive day, and I gained a deeper understanding of the behind-the-scenes work that makes these programs successful.

May 7 — Road Trip and Workshop Fun

The second day of my internship was a mix of travel and hands-on experience. Mrs. Rebecca Catalena, Mr. Jack LeCroy, and I hit the road to Monroeville, Alabama for the Garden to Pantry workshop. When we got there, I jumped in to help set up tables, organize papers, wash strawberries, and prep croissants for participants to try with the jelly. I also met Mrs. Alexia, the nutrition regional Extension agent for Baldwin County. We had a great chat about nutrition while she made delicious smoothies for everyone. As participants arrived, we helped them get settled and introduced ourselves. Mr. Jack shared some awesome gardening tips while we finished preparing for the canning workshop. My job was to hand out napkins and assist wherever needed. It was cool to see everyone crushing strawberries and getting into the process.

Mrs. Rebecca led the jelly-making session, guiding everyone as they poured their jelly into jars and placed them in the water bath canner. I timed the boiling process for 10 minutes, and soon we were all enjoying the amazing strawberry kiwi jelly on croissants and the delicious fruit leather that Mrs. Rebecca had made. I also got a chance to practice my educational skills by discussing the nutritional benefits of the chia seeds included in the fruit leather. After the workshop, we cleaned up, packed everything, and headed back to Mobile. On the way, I had the chance to chat more with Mr. Jack and Mrs. Rebecca, getting to know them better. It was a fun and productive day, and I’m excited for what’s next!

May 6 — My First Day

My first day of my summer internship with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System was a success! Walking into the office, I felt nervous, but that quickly changed as I was warmly welcomed by the team. Mrs. Cindy, who is the Mobile County Extension coordinator, and Mrs. Diane, who is the administrative support associate, sat and talked with me, making me feel at home. Then my mentor, Mrs. Rebecca Catalena, arrived full of energy and joy, and we started our day. I toured the office and met all the kind and helpful Extension agents. After settling at my desk, Mrs. Rebecca, the regional Extension agent for food safety, and I discussed our goals for the week and got to know each other better. We then jumped into preparing for tomorrow’s Garden to Pantry workshop. I cut up kiwis and ginger and cooked blueberries for fruit leather and jelly. I also did a little research on proper canning, so I could see what Mrs. Rebecca would be talking about tomorrow. It was a fun and engaging start to my internship. Overall, it was a fantastic first day, and I’m excited for what’s to come!

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