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Site Location

Dean Lee Research and Extension Center and Rapides Parish Extension Office

Site Description

This position will be based out the Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, as well as the Rapides Parish Office. These are housed at the same location. The Dean Lee Research and Extension Center affords opportunities for the intern to patriciate in beef cattle extension programming, beef cattle herd management, and beef cattle research, if desirable. Likewise, the Rapides Parish Extension Office affords opportunities for assisting on farm visits focused on all livestock species and pasture management. These locations also allow for travel throughout the Central Region to other offices and producer sites.

Role of Intern

The intern will work with Dr. Ashley Edwards (State Livestock Extension Specialist) and Mr. Rodney Johnson (Central Region Livestock Agent) on a variety of extension programs, projects, and farm visits. With Dr. Edwards, the intern will have the opportunity to work with the beef cattle herd housed at the Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, travel to programs throughout the state as able, assist with the implementation and management of statewide beef cattle extension programs, and create a variety of deliverables for livestock producers. With Mr. Rodney, they will be able to travel on various farm visits to assess problems currently being faced by producers, assist with implementation of extension programs for sheep and goat producers, and help with 4-H programming efforts as the need arises.

List of Qualifications

The intern should be enrolled in a degree program such as Animal Science, Agricultural Business, Agricultural and Extension Education and Evaluation, or a similar program. Preference should be given to interns interested in livestock production and management.

Primary Contact Information

Ashley K. Edwards, PhD
Assistant Professor and Extension Livestock Specialist Dean Lee Research and Extension Center
8105 Tom Bowman Dr. Alexandria, LA 71302 akedwards@agcenter.lsu.edu Cell: 512-818-5476

Additional Mentor

Rodney Johnson Extension Agent
Rapides Parish – Central Region 300 Grady Brit Dr.
Alexandria, LA 71302 rjohnson@agcenter.lsu.edu 318-767-3962

Number of Intern Positions One (1) position

Primary Tasks, Duties and/or Responsibilities

The intern will assist with the creation of educational deliverables for livestock producers in a variety of formats, including newsletters, factsheets, videos, podcasts, presentations, and others. In working with both mentors, they will be traveling to farm visits and other LSU AgCenter locations to meet with producers and related industry members. They may be asked to assist with 4-H programs related to livestock production and/or livestock shows. Travel throughout the state may be available based on programming efforts and feasibility with the internship program. There will also be opportunities to assist with management of the beef cattle herd at the Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, offering an understanding of how research and extension are interrelated.

Success Measure or End of Project Deliverables

Success of the internship will be measured through the delivery of (1) at least one drafted or published fact sheet on a topic related to beef cattle, sheep, or goat production, (2) an abstract on either an extension program or related topic/project on livestock production, and (3) a complimentary presentation for the previously mentioned abstract.