Connecting Community and Food at the Cornell Cooperative Extension
This summer, Alexandria Hansson '22 and Emilia Vardai-Davidson '23 got their hands a little dirty in the name of sustainable agriculture.
Both students spent their summers supporting programs at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, which strives to strengthen communities and protect our environment by promoting access to local foodsystems. This experience was made possible by the St. Lawrence University Public Interest Corp (SLUPIC) program, which provides funding and on-campus housing for students pursuing summer internships with local non-profits and organizations.
Alexandria and Emilia shared some of their experiences at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, what they learned about the North Country, and what they'll take with them now that their summers have ended.
Alexandria Hansson '22
Major/Minor: Environmental Studies major, Biology, Public Health, and Government triple minor
Hometown: Redwood, New York
SLUPIC Internship: Cornell Cooperative Extension Garden-to-Table
Why were you interested in interning with this particular North Country organization?
St. Lawrence County Cornell Cooperative Extension became an interest of mine after touring it last summer. I recognized the importance of this community partner and its mission of providing resources, conducting community outreach through programs and expert services, and promoting education on multiple fronts. Their local foods program really drew me in and I was very interested in the training they conduct (specifically Master Food Preservers and Master Garden Volunteers). I wanted to be part of the nonprofit scene as someone interested in humanitarian causes and serving local communities.
What is an average day with the Cornell Cooperative Extension like for you?
The Master Food Preservers Program course is a training session for those who wish to expand upon advanced methods of food preservation and canning. I was able to help build the modules for the coursework and organize the kitchen and supplies for the participants, while also taking them through every step of the training (and getting many tasty treats as well!).
I also was very fortunate to work with the North Winds Farm Day Camp during their “Grow with Us!” week. I helped to design creative activities for kids, create educational content in our high tunnels, design seed mosaics, and make natural plant-based dyes. We also incorporated farm-fresh herbs and veggies into snack time to get a taste of what eating local is all about!
The Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) Program is another major project of mine. I helped create application forms and interview questions, revisited the intensive online modules for easy use, formatted advertising materials, and organized the schedule and emails to reach out to speakers to secure programming. These materials will be used in future MGV training.
How has this experience enriched or changed your understanding of the North Country?
As a North Country local hailing from Redwood, New York, this program has shown me the positive impact that the Cornell extensions' resources and outreach have on local communities (including my own). It also has shown me that all “rural” areas are different in their needs beyond county lines and that it is easy to generalize an area because of how easily it relates to one’s own experiences.
What have you learned about yourself through this experience?
This internship confirmed my passion for working with non-profits and humanitarian causes, and my desire to leverage education and outreach services to bring nutritious, accessible, and local foods to more families and individuals in need. It also taught me how thoroughly I like working outdoors and leading activities and events rather than being at a desk for the majority of the day.
Do you feel this experience has influenced your career path in any way? If so, how?
This experience has made me reconsider pursuing a graduate school program for environmental nutrition or pursuing a career with a broader focus on education.
What did you get to do while living on campus over the summer that you aren’t usually able to do in the fall or spring?
I was excited to experience the beauty and the buzz of activity in the Canton community and surrounding areas. I was able to explore more, enjoy downtown, appreciate campus without any looming homework, participate in Summerfest, head to local farmers' markets, and so much more!
Emilia Vardai-Davidson '23
Major: Global Studies
Hometown: Amsterdam, New York
SLUPIC Internship: Cornell Cooperative Extension North Winds
Why were you interested in interning with this particular North Country organization?
I applied for this internship because I wanted to engage with the community around St. Lawrence and I felt that this was one of the internships to which I personally felt connected. I was drawn to the hands-on learning activities that this camp employs to promote the best kind of education for the children that attend.
What is an average day with North Winds like for you?
No two days on the job have ever looked the same. On some days I worked on my computer in the office. Some days I worked on the farm, mulching, painting, and doing different odd jobs. Sometimes I'm in the storage room in the barn doing inventory or learning about the animals that we have. The days are always different, which keeps it exciting.
How has this experience enriched or changed your understanding of the North Country?
I discovered a whole community that I was unaware of, even though it is only a couple of minutes away from St. Lawrence. I have been learning more about 4-H, the Cornell Cooperation Extension, and all of the good that these organizations do for the children of the community. This experience opened my eyes to all the work that non-profit organizations do in the North Country and how connected everyone truly is.
What have you learned about yourself through this experience?
I discovered that I am capable of doing work that requires a lot of versatility. This job requires a variety of different skills and a willingness to learn new things, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it.
Do you feel this experience has influenced your career path in any way? If so, how?
I got a clearer sense of the type of environment that I want to work in. I want to be in an environment that isn't monotonous and has variety in the type of work that is done from day to day.
What did you get to do while living on campus over the summer that you aren’t usually able to do in the fall or spring?
This summer, I spent my weekends focusing less on completing homework assignments and more on finding fun things to do, like attending Summerfest in Potsdam.
