College and Major: Auburn University College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences (Equine)

Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama

Career Goals: : I hope to work in an aspect of the equine industry, potentially through Extension!

Hobby or Fun Fact: I am an avid fishkeeper, and currently have more than 100 combined bettas, catfish, tetras, danios, and shrimp in my apartment.

Thoughts from Reese

Preinternship

During my ten-week internship with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System this summer, I am hoping to fill in some gaps in the pathway to my future and the career that it will surround. My hometown of Montgomery allowed me to be a part of the Alabama 4-H program as a high schooler, and I have no doubt that it helped shape me as a person and a leader. Coming back to the same organization on this side is a unique and interesting experience, and while my goal is to bring as much accurate equine information to the state as possible, I hope that youth development and 4-H will be a crucial part of my mission. Through this process, I am confident that I will get closer to answering the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up,” whether it be in an Extension-related career or otherwise.

Personally speaking, time efficiency, workload management, and networking are all skills that could use some refining. The 2025 Alabama Extension summer internship has already begun to help me with this process, and the remainder of the summer is sure to follow suit. Between my wonderful mentor, Courtney Heaton, and the events that I will be able to attend, I hope to meet as many people as possible. I also expressed to my mentor that I work well with hard deadlines and being held accountable, which I believe will help me stay on track this summer and develop the skills needed to hold myself to the same standards when working on my own in the future. Overall, I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this internship. The experience is not only helping me grow personally, but also giving me glimpses of the professional directions that I have been trying to find for years. I’m excited to continue learning, building connections, and contributing to an organization that has already played such a formative role in my life.

Postinternship

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s 2025 summer internship was nothing short of wonderful. I accomplished everything I had hoped for and more. Between multiple 4-H horse shows, educational events, the 2025 AACAAS Annual Meeting, and my main project—HERD: Horse Education Resource Development—the summer was a marathon, not a sprint. Every day brought new challenges, rewards, and experiences. I’m proud to say that the goals I set before starting the internship came to life. I developed key professional skills such as time management and accountability, met as many people as I possibly could, and made a meaningful impact on Alabama’s equine community through the Alabama Equine Extension Facebook page, where I published a ten-post infographic-style series. My favorite accomplishment was attending both the Alabama 4-H State Horse Show and the 2025 4-H Southern Regional Show. Following the athletic and educational journeys of many 4-H riders throughout the summer was incredibly rewarding.

There was so much to learn from this internship that it’s hard to name just one takeaway. I discovered the power of creative expression in agricultural education, the importance of human connection in Extension work, and the effectiveness of social media as a communication tool. To future interns: say yes to every opportunity. In such a rich environment, doors can open left and right, and a day that starts off ordinary can turn into something extraordinary with just one word. Pursuing a career in Extension is absolutely a possibility for me, and I’m incredibly grateful to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System for giving me this opportunity.