Greetings! I am Catie Messer, and I am the Rising Star Intern for Region 27. I am a senior at Iowa State University majoring in Agriculture Education, Communications option. I am from Mediapolis, Iowa, Des Moines County, and I grew up in Region 27, so I am familiar with my surroundings! I enjoy baking, showing cattle, quilting, spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, kayaking, camping, and spending time with my family (but my favorites are my nieces and nephews)! I’m looking forward to working on Soccer For Success, PoP Club, and any program where I get to work with kids this summer. Last summer, I was supposed to be a Rising Star Intern. Unfortunately, it was unable to happen due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. So instead, I worked on building up my quilting business and was even able to babysit one of my nieces! I am VERY excited that we can have this internship program happen this year and finally be a Rising Star!
Week One in Review
Despite a week full of rain, I had a great first week in Region 27! Week one was busy planning many projects related to COVID-19 recovery and touring the area. Monday and Tuesday, I traveled to Henry County Extension Office in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to start planning projects and make plans for the summer. One project I started on was StoryWalk (more on that later), and I met the other Rising Star Interns via zoom! On Wednesday, I traveled to Lee County Extension Office in Donnellson, Iowa, to get to know the area, meet the staff, and plan projects in this county. I collaborated with the intern for Lee County, and I can’t wait to work on projects with her! We were able to have some fun watching some chicks in the office that were hatching! On Thursday, I went to the Louisa County Extension Office in Wapello, Iowa. I was able to meet the staff, and I met with Abby Boysen, the Youth Program Specialist for Region 27 to get started on the marketing and recruitment campaign for recruiting new 4-H members and on Soccer For Success. On Friday, I finished out the week by going to the Des Moines County Extension Office in West Burlington, Iowa. It was great to see the Extension staff that I grew up around in 4-H and to see a different side of Extension because it is not just 4-H! I met with Morgan Hoenig, the Local Foods Coordinator of Des Moines and Henry Counties to discuss and plan PoP Club, Insect Zoo, and other projects within Des Moines County. My grandma even stopped by the office to say hello! I can’t wait to see what week 2 brings!