By GINA KINSLOW
Glasgow Daily Times
GLASGOW —
Ashley Quiggins is keeping busy this summer.
As an intern with the Barren County Cooperative Extension Service, the Western Kentucky University junior is working with the Barren County 4-H and Youth Development Program.
In the short time she has been with the local Extension office, she has helped with the state dairy jeopardy contest, a bicycle rodeo, the local livestock judging team, and traveled with local youth to 4-H Camp.
“I’ll basically be doing a lot of hands-on stuff with 4-H, however, I will get to work with the other agents here in the office — Gary Tilghman with ag and resource; Kristin Goodin with horticulture; as well as Mindy McCulley with Family and Consumer Sciences,” she said.
A career related to the agriculture field seemed like a natural choice for Quiggins.
“I grew up on a burley tobacco/beef cattle operation in Horse Cave. We are a fourth generation farm and it’s something that has taught me a lot of hard work and dedication and is definitely an industry that touches many other industries across the world,” she said. “I think it’s very important and it’s my passion.”
Quiggins will be interning with the local Extension office until Aug. 20.
“We’re very pleased to have Ashley serving as an Extension summer intern,” said Paula Tarry, Barren County’s agent for 4-H and Youth Development. “This is one of the internship programs that is offered through the University of Kentucky through the Cooperative Extension Service that allows youth who are interested in becoming involved in the Extension service to find out what it is really like from a different perspective.”
Many of the Extension service’s summer interns have been involved in agriculture through 4-H or other avenues.
“This will give them an idea what it is like to plan a program, to see the program through and see if this is something they want to do as a future career,” she said.
There are 32 Extension service interns throughout the state.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who is interested in agriculture,” Tarry said.
Quiggins will graduate from WKU in 2011 with a degree in agriculture, with a concentration in animal science.
After college, she plans to attend graduate school and is looking to land a job in Extension or possibly teach agriculture on the collegiate level.
“Animal science has really been my main focus. I thought about agriculture education for a little while. My dad teaches high school ag in Larue County and I grew up through 4-H and FFA programs, but I really just can’t get away from the animals,” she said.
Quiggins grew up showing various species — sheep, goat, hogs and cattle.
“I just really enjoy studying and being surrounded by them,” she said.
She is the daughter of Tim and Wanda Quiggins, of Horse Cave. She has a younger brother, Blake.
