April News

Partnering for Community Internships in Colorado
Jane Enger (Teller County Famers Market), Joe Stone, and Dave Ward (Central Colorado Foodshed Alliance) attended an Internship Supervisor Training, conducted by Darryl Birkenfeld, at Fusion Japan restaurant in Woodlawn Park, Colorado. These two organizations are partnering with Ogallala Commons to create 2 Community Internships. OC will be training more than 60 Internship Supervisors over the next 5 weeks.


OC Attends Kansas Farmer’s Union Food Co-Op Workshop

Bob Mailander presents on how to create successful co-ops

Part one of Food Hubs and Co-ops: How local family farms can feed our communities, Establishing an Online Food Cooperative, was held April 6th in Hiawatha, Kansas. The workshop provided a look at food co-ops and local food in general. Ogallala Commons director, Darryl Birkenfeld, explained how his community created enthusiasm about local food, and  that to have a flourishing Foodshed, you have to engage youth. In addition, OC board member Bob Mailander spoke on creating successful co-ops. OC’s advisory council was also represented by Kim Barker, with the Oklahoma Food Co-op, and Chris Sramek, with the High Plains Food Co-op. The two cooperatives have very similar operating procedures. (Read the full story from Kansas Farmer's Union)

3^rd Annual Youth Engagement Day 

Back: Ty Ownbey, David Willhite, Zane Jenkins, Adrian Suarez

Front: Kidryn Hoeffner, Shaelynn Wood, Chelcy Viner, Katie Jenkins

The Campo Youth Advisory Council (YAC) hosted their 3rd Annual Youth Engagement Day on Wednesday, April 10.  Approximately 100 students from Campo, Kim, Pritchett, Vilas, and Walsh, Colorado and Keyes, Oklahoma attended the event. Students gathered in the gym for a welcome by YAC President, Adrian Suarez.  David Willhite then introduced the keynote speaker, Ogallala Commons Advisory Council member Andy Wilkinson.  Andy spoke to the group about their responsibility to get involved in their communities and to plan for their future and encouraged them to pursue the post-secondary education that meets their career goals. Following the keynote session, students chose from various breakout sessions put on by local and regional colleges, governmental organizations, and even emergency responders. The event concluded with an "Entrepreneur Panel" featuring talks from  former YAC member and current OPSU senior, Rafe Schroder, local business owners Shalah Perkins and Shawn Crane, Otero Junior College’s Bill Dutro, and Baca County Economic Development director, Shelia Crane. (Read the full story in the Monday Morning Update)

'Graduates' of OC Playa Festivals Help Keep the Wetlands Safe

The "Arsenic Arresters" meet with former First Lady Laura Bush

Students who attend OC Playa Festivals go on to do even bigger projects! Recently, a 6^th grade "Science Rocks U" team—Hudson Sanders, Brett Wilson, and George Wiebe—have spearheaded efforts to reduce arsenic in their region. Research and experiments sampled and determined arsenic levels in farmlands and wetlands, as well as the local water supply.  It was discovered that the highest levels of arsenic were found in irrigated farmlands. Additionally, playa wetlands were negatively affected by the presence of arsenic. The team, called "Arsenic Arresters," instituted an outreach campaign which encouraged people to draw water from the hot side of the tap.  Public awareness days were hosted and the team presented to local conservation groups, university scientists, and the public. Through the Conservation Symposium in Midland, the team was able to share their findings with landowners and former First Lady Laura Bush. Legislative efforts were begun which seek to limit arsenic levels found in food.  In conjunction with Texas Tech University and West Texas A&M, long-term action plans were developed for continued monitoring of arsenic. 

March News

Growing Our Collaborative Network Out West

Darryl Birkenfeld, OC Director 

Dr. Birkenfeld meets with
Peou Lakhana and Kristyn Yepa
of the Notah Begah III Foundation

Ogallala Commons is building some great partnerships to create Community Internships out in New Mexico with Native American groups.  On March 8th, OC Director Darryl Birkenfeld met with Peou Lakhana and Kristyn Yepa from the Notah Begay III Foundation based in Santa Ana Pueblo near Bernalillo, New Mexico, a nonprofit focused on combating childhood obesity.  Darryl also drove to Bernalillo High School to meet with Community Intern candidate Tenisha Velasquez, accompanied by her mother Jolene and little brother. Tenisha has dreams of becoming a nurse and working with children who have special needs.  After high school graduation, she hopes to land an internship working with folks at NB3 Foundation.  

Intern Candidate Tenisha Velasquez
with her mother and younger brother

It looks like a northern New Mexico nonprofit that is building an amazing local food hub, Taos County Economic Development Corporation, will also be seeking to create 3 Community Internships with Ogallala Commons.  So, we are well on our way to achieving 60 interns in 2013.

In addition, OC is pleased to announce that CoBank contributed $10,000 sponsorship for our Intern Orientation on May 28-30 at Talon Point in Dumas, Texas.  Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank is a $90 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states.

Middle School Youth E-Fair A Success

Julie Hodges, OC Education Coordinator

Students taking Career Investigations at Irons Middle School in Lubbock, Texas participated in an Ogallala Commons Youth Entrepreneur Fair on March 7, 2013.  Representatives from Plains Capital Bank and Lubbock Christian University SIFE/INACTUS team served as judges for the event.

The winners of the Fair received cash prizes donated by Plains Capital Bank in Lubbock.

1st: Easton Verkamp

2nd: Maggie Garcia & Mckenzie Pierson

3rd: Cameron Edens, Creighton Alejandro, Andrew Worthy

Ogallala Commons Attends College Conference on Cooperatives
Megan England, OC Intern Coordinator

Participants and Sponsors at the CCOC
Megan: 2nd from bottom, 2nd from right,
Justin: 6th from bottom, 2nd from left
(Photo courtesy of National Farmers Union)

On March 15-17, more than 100 students from 16 states (and Canada) gathered in Minneapolis for the National Farmers Union 2013 College Conference on Cooperatives. Ogallala Commons’ Megan England and Justin Trammell both had the opportunity to attend.

Some highlights of the weekend from Justin’s guest blogs on the NFU website included a visit to the headquarters of the nation’s leading cooperative: CHS, Inc., and tours of various local co-ops. 

“[The CCOC] is an opportunity for Farmers Union and the cooperative community to teach young people about cooperative business principles and history,” said NFU President Roger Johnson, “to introduce them to a wide variety of co-ops, and to show them that there are great careers in strong, ethical and community-minded businesses.”

February News

OC Website: Check it out!

Over the past several months, OC Education Coordinator, Julie Hodges, has been working with NewCoast Media to renovate and update our website. The new site features better navigation, updated programs pages and beautiful photographs. We have also linked the website to our social media outlets, including blogs, facebook and twitter accounts.

Please take a moment to explore the new site, "like" Ogallala Commons on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Website: www.ogallalacommons.org

Southern Plains Conference

We invite you to attend our 24th Annual Southern Plains Conference on March 20 and 21 (Wed. & Thurs.) in Canyon, Texas. You will be greatly enriched by our conference theme: "Spare Time on the Plains: The Search for Leisure and Recreation."   Our Wednesday afternoon excursion tours, Evening Soiree, and Thursday conference presentations and workshops will insure an fun, embodied exploration of leisure and recreation--drawing on historical practices while offering possibilities that fit with our contemporary lives.  All we need to be successful is your presence at one, two, or all of the three main events of the conference!

Click here to view the conference brochure/agenda.

Click here to register!

Climbing the Mountain to 60

This month, OC is far along on the process of recruiting 60 Community Interns to work with towns and institutions in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Oklahoma.  

We already have identified more than 40 interns, so if communities or candidates are still interested, you will need to contact us very soon!  For more information about Ogallala Commons Community Internships or to apply, contact Julie Hodges, OC Education Coordinator (juliehodges@prairieworkshop.com or 806-445-6075).  Also visit our community intern webpage to learn more.

Intern Profile: Kristine Abu-Hantash

Kristine Abu-Hantash grew up in Amarillo, TX, graduated from high school, and dabbled in journalism and broadcasting at Amarillo College. After that, Kris lived in Dallas and Denver, then signed up for a four-year hitch in the U.S. Army -- a chance to "see the world". Kris then returned to Amarillo College to study photography and journalism, worked for the Amarillo Globe-News, and earned a bachelor's degree in history from West Texas A&M University. Recently, she served as a seasonal guide for the National Park Service at Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area.  In 2012, Kris returned to WTAMU as a graduate student in public history. Kris’ internship is a public history project documenting the voluntary societies and community organizations – both sacred and secular – that residents of Nazareth and its environs have taken part in over the last hundred years.

Welcome, Kristine!

(Read more)

Intern Profile: Chelsea Wink

Another 2013 Intern, Chelsea Wink, resides in Lubbock, Texas. She is a graduate student at Wayland Baptist University pursuing a master of arts in history. She also received her bachelor’s degree in from Wayland Baptist University in 2007. Chelsea says "All aspects of history fascinate me, but my main interest would be 20th century history." She is also very interested in local history. Chelsea will be working with Barbara Brannon, Executive Director of the Texas Plains Trail Region (TPTR) as a communication intern.  Chelsea will support the communications, public relations and programming objectives of the Texas Plains Trail Region during its 10th Anniversary year of 2013.

Welcome to Ogallala Commons, Chelsea!

(Read More)

November/December News

Engaging Youth in Kansas

Pharmacy owner Dawn Hampton instructs youth
entrepreneurs in how to build a successful retail
business in small towns

Two dozen teenagers interested in community improvement, creating new enterprises, or building careers through entrepreneurship took part in a Youth Engagement Day, held in Atwood, KS on November 7th.  The students in Grade 7-12 were from Rawlins County and St. Francis, KS schools.  Another dozen adult mentors led the youth in tours of Rawlins County Hospital, Mizer Milling, Rawlins County Dental Clinic and Currier Drug / Bison Compounding and Therapy.  To conclude, youth presented their idea to the entire group to get feedback and critique for the Spring Entrepreneurship Fair.  Winning Ideas were selected by vote.  1st Place - Cameron Colgan and Sheldon McCain with, Critter Emitters the humane pest removers, 2nd Place - Matt and Zach White,  Aquaponics Vegetable and Fresh Fish business, 3rd Place - Austin Rueber, Cancer Research, 4th Place - Dillon Cozza,  All Around Farm, 5th Place Jayln Dirks, Women's Hunting Lodge, and 6th Place - Spohia Hampton  and Rohey Singhateh, Specialty Clothing Design.   Every student that participated in the Youth Engagement Day received 5 or 10 bonus points if they submit their project ideas in the Spring E-ship Fair

Youth have bright ideas that can improve and reinvent our rural communities too.  But youth need help and resources in learning how to move ideas off the drawing board into real life.  Soft skills and communication are so important for being successful today, and activities like Youth Engagement Days and Youth Entrepreneur Fairs can provide those opportunities to our youth.

Youth Showcase Business Ideas

Winners of the 6th Annual Ogallala Commons Regional 
Entrepreneur Fair celebrate in Plainview, Texas

On November 13th, 42 students competed in the 6^th Annual Ogallala Commons Regional Youth Entrepreneur Fair, held at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX.  Aspiring entrepreneurs from New Deal, Plainview, Dimmitt, Tulia, and Nazareth displayed 21 business ideas, and top finishers received cash prizes totaling $4,500. 

The following youth entrepreneurs were awarded prizes in the “Ready-to-Go business category: 1st place ($1000) Jordan Smoot and Jessica Walker, Tulia, Kupcake Kuties; 2^nd Place ($750) Haley Raymond, Plainview, Attic Treasures; 3^rd Place ($500) Daniel Buck, Dimmitt, Daniel’s RV Park.

(L-R): Darryl Birkenfeld, Ogallala Commons Director, Adrie Lopez,
Emarie Marten, Estafania Saldana, and Amy Henderson,
Vice-President and Commercial Loan Officer,
Amarillo National Bank
Photo by Heath Acker

In the “Still-in-the-Future” business category: 1^st place ($1,000) Adrie Lopez, Estephania Saldana, and Emarie Marten, Friona, Remember When; 2^nd place ($750) Courtney Thornton, Criselda Olivarez, Trace Johnson, Mariah Powell, and Saragosa Rodriquez, Tulia, Puzzles; and 3^rd place ($500) Marisol Quitana and Iris Ocon, Dimmitt, Fashionably Delicious. 

Prize money donors for the Fair were City of Tulia EDC, Peoples Bank-Nazareth, Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative, Happy State Bank, First Bank Muleshe, Amarillo National Bank, Swisher Electric Cooperative, John Bertsch, CFP, and Cargill Feeders, Inc. Sponsors for the Youth E-Fair were West Texas A&M Enterprise Center, West Texas A&M University Small Business Development Center, Plainview Main Street/CVB, along with Ogallala Commons.

Partnering to Create Community Internships
Ogallala Commons is distributing its 2013 Community Internship Partner Guidebook across 7 states, identifying and informing communities, businesses, and organizations about the benefits of creating internships that can enrich both interns and local communities.  On Dec. 4^th, OC held a Community Partnering Meeting at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX, and shared information and built contacts with new organizations and businesses, as well as career services representatives from area universities.  In 2013, OC aims to create over 60 Community Internships.  To obtain information or an application for a Community Internship, contact Julie Hodges, OC Education Coordinator (juliehodges@prairieworkshop.com)

Support our Annual Appeal

Want to help Ogallala Commons with its growing Community Internships Program?  Your tax-deductible contribution to Ogallala Commons will directly support 60 Community Interns in Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Oklahoma in 2013.  For your convenience, we have set up an online contribution system using PayPal. Simply click here to make a contribution now.  If you would rather mail in your contribution, print out the attached contribution form and fill it out to enclose with your contribution.  The address for Ogallala Commons is PO BOX 346, Nazareth, TX 79063.  We appreciate your support!

October News

Learning About Water

Ogallala Commons is conducting water education for schools in the Texas Panhandle and Eastern New Mexico with Playa Festivals – a hands-on environmental education program designed to illustrate the challenges of water in the Southern High Plains.  Participants learn about playa wetlands, the Ogallala Aquifer, soils, plants, waterfowl and other wildlife during the day-long event.  After a morning of activities, students visit a nearby playa, salina or river to explore, collect samples and make observations in their nature journals.  Playa Festivals are funded by several regional underground water conservation districts, The Dixon Water Foundation, and Xcel Energy Foundation.

Ogallala Commons’ very own Darryl Birkenfeld and Julie Hodges make presentations at each Festival; additionally, OC provides a unique cast of experienced presenters. Jim Steiert, an author and waterfowler from Hereford, Texas, demonstrate the effectiveness of buffers around wetlands to prevent sedimentation, as well as great information about waterfowl. Justin Trammell, an OC Community Intern, teaches about wetland macroinvertebrates and all tiny creatures that thrill Festival participants.  Gail Barnes, Education Coordinator at the South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Lubbock, brings “wildlife ambassadors” --live animals used for educational programming that have been injured or orphaned, and cannot be released into the wild.  Robert Martin is a herpetologist for The Nature Conservancy and Jessica Kissner is a graduate student from Texas Tech University.  Robert and Jessica’s presentations shed light onto the mysterious world of reptiles and amphibians that inhabit playas and other wetlands.

Engaging Youth and Planning Internships

Ogallala Commons will be partnering with Rawlins County Schools and Rawlins County HTC, and Ogallala Commons for a Youth Engagement Day, to be held at Rawlins County High School in Atwood, Kansas on Wednesday, November 7th from 8:30am to 1:30pm.

With its theme, "A World of Ideas," our Youth Engagement Day is designed for 7-12 Grade students who are interested in community improvement, creating new enterprises and businesses, or building careers through entrepreneurship. It will be an exciting time for students to bring ideas and to grow them through communication and collaboration with others.  Ogallala Commons will conduct two sessions that will focus on creating Community Internships, and cover topics such as how to organize successful internships, how to finance them, how to build work plans, and how youth engagement fit with internships.  OC Board of Directors Simone Cahoj, Bobby Gierisch, and Tom Giessel will be assisting with the Community Partnering presentations.

Youth E-Fair Coming in November

Business ideas from over 60 high schools students are being entered into the 6^th Annual OC Regional Youth Entrepreneur Fair, set for November 13^th in Plainview, TX.  The Fair will be held at the Multi-Purpose Room on the campus of Wayland Baptist University.  During the lunch hour from 12noon to 1:15pm, the general public will be able to tour the booths that display both potential and already-operating businesses of youth entrepreneurs from the area. 

Entrepreneurs will be awarded points by a panel of three judges based on the following criteria: Business Plan, Interview with Judges, Booth Presentation at the Fair, Network of Support, and Financing Strategies.  Besides earning valuable experience in business planning, conducting interviews, and selling a business idea to the public, top finishers in the contest received cash prizes.  Keynote speakers at the 11am session will be 2 former winners of previous Fairs.

Presentations at the Texas Midwest Communities Network (TMCN) Annual Conference

On October 17^th, Julie Hodges traveled to Abilene, Texas, where she presented a “Solution Seminar” on youth engagement activities for communities.  Julie explained OC’s Youth Engagement Programs: Youth Engagement Days, Youth Entrepreneur Fairs and the OC Community Internship Program.  Approximately 80 people attended Julie’s sessions.

Intern Profile: Nellie Hill

Photo: Jade Comstock (DLC Photography)

I am a lover of sunflowers, fields of wheat, I-70 and the Kansas State Wildcats. I am a proud Kansas native who recently became a temporary Texan. My family lives in rural Marion County, Kansas surrounded by CRP grass and an hour from the nearest big-box store. Manhattan became my new home as I attended Kansas State until graduation this past May.   In pursuit of a Master’s in Agricultural Communications, I made the move this past August to Lubbock, Texas [Tech]. My passion for agriculture takes form in communicating with and educating the public about agriculture's impact on their daily lives.  I enjoy sharing the stories of producers and agribusinesses with consumers who have a growing interest in where their food comes from. My long-term goal is to help future agricultural communicators prepare to share the message of agriculture.  After completing my Master’s degree, I hope to work in the industry and later pursue a Doctoral degree and become a professor.  My interests in industry work include communications work for commodity groups, government agriculture agencies or event coordination for university colleges. The Ogallala Commons communications internship will help me reach these goals by keeping me in-tune and giving back to the lands I have always called home. My neighbors, new and old, are affected by the socio-economic, environmental and government actions associated with the aquifer and Great Plains.

September News

Youth Engage a “World of Ideas”

Attendees at Youth E-Day in Plainview, TX

At a time when a variety of enterprises are needed to build vibrant communities, more than 110 high school youth brought their best ideas to a couple of Ogallala Commons Youth Engagement Days: one in Plainview, TX (Sept. 11^th) and another in Dumas, TX (Sept. 18^th).  

In the first session of the Youth E-Day, teenagers worked in small groups, sharing their ideas and getting feedback from facilitators, most of whom were from SIFE (Students Involved in Free Enterprise) chapters at Wayland Baptist University and

Students and facilitators at Youth E-Day in Dumas, TX

West Texas A&M University.  In each small group, participants voted one idea as "Best in Group." The second part of the event featured a walking tour of “Ideas Made Real” with site visits to local businesses and enterprises that make an impact locally and regionally.  Before the event wrapped up, students were invited to continue fleshing out their ideas by entering two upcoming Youth Entrepreneur Fairs, or by applying for an OC Community Internship.  Above all, everyone attending the Youth E-Day was encouraged to connect to and develop their own dreams, and to recognize that all communities want and need our youth to return—when they choose and when they are ready--to live, work, and raise their families.  Ogallala Commons staff and partners will present the next Youth Engagement Day in Atwood, KS on Nov. 7^th

Banner Year for Community Internships

As the fall season arrives, Ogallala Commons is putting the wraps on its largest and most diverse group of Community Internships.  In 2012, a total of 46 Community Interns worked on several hundred projects and activities--in towns, counties, and organizations spread across Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, and New Mexico.  In the process, the interns gained valuable work experience, increased their professional skills and honed their talents--while working on projects that added value to their communities and institutions. 

In addition, Community Interns had many opportunities to explore career options that could bring them back to their hometowns and regions one day. 

In 2012, OC Community Interns consisted of 19 College-level Interns, 17 high school-level interns, 4 Interns in Graduate School, and 6 older adult interns.  Congratulations to our Interns, and thanks for a job well done.

Recruitment of new interns has already begun.  On September 12^th, OC Board President Tom Giessel (Larned, KS) and Chris Sramek, OC Advisory Council (Atwood, KS), joined OC Director Darryl Birkenfeld to staff a booth at the Career-Internship Fair at Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS.  Nearly 3 dozen college students from Kansas and Nebraska towns stopped by the booth to make inquires and leave off their resumes.  OC has already received 6 applications for 2013 Community Internships (4 from West Texas A&M SIFE students featured in the photo below).  Applications can be procured by emailing Julie Hodges, OC Education Coordinator (juliehodges@prairieworkshop.com)

Intern Profile: Justin Trammell

My name is Justin Trammell and I am 22 years old. I am from the Amarillo/Canyon area. I learned to love the earth and appreciate both domestic and wild animals as I grew up on my family farm. I attended Canyon High School and received my B.S. in wildlife biology from West Texas A&M University in 2012. I am currently attending graduate school at WT, getting my degree in biology with a thesis focusing on the vegetation and invertebrate communities of playa lakes.

While in college, I became part of the WT Herdsmen, an organization that deepened my love for animals and my understanding about conservation issues [and] refined my character. I am passionate about wildlife and about educating people on how to better coexist with wildlife while still making a living.

This internship will help me by allowing me make more contacts and achieve a better understanding of local issues, as well as how to run education events which would help me to get employed at government agencies or NGO’s where I could pursue my passion. 

Intern Profile: Monica Veleta

Hello everyone! My name is Monica Veleta. I’m from the small community of Tribune, KS. According to the 2010 Census, our population is 1,247. I am [in] my senior year of High School and hope [to] graduate in the year of 2013. After I graduate, I hope to go to college and enter the world of Accounting and Sociology, as well as being in an athletic program.

My internship [was] held in Tribune, with Christy Hopkins. It has always been a goal of mine to make a positive impact on my community. With the help of Christy and this internship, I hope to [have made] that impact this summer.

August News

Ogallala Commons Interns: Supporting Local Foods

Angela Ludolph and Paul Martin

Darryl visits Seguin Community
Gardens to see the work of intern 

and volunteers

Since 2010, OC Community Interns have been active in growing local food systems, and this summer, nearly a dozen interns in Colorado, Texas, and Kansas are working at food co-ops, farmers markets, or community gardens. 

Last week, OC Director Darryl Birkenfeld made a trip to Austin and nearby Seguin, TX to learn more about a series of community gardens that Intern Angela Ludolph is working on, under the supervision of Dr. Paul Martin.  While in the vicinity, Darryl also met with OC Board Member Bobby Gierisch, who is playing a major role in program development for OC Interns.

Paul Martin and Pedro

In addition, we are happy to feature a photo of intern Joshua Nameth, doing great work with Arkansas Valley Organic Growers in the Colorado Springs area.

Marcy Nameth, AVOG General Manager, and son Joshua,
Ogallala Commons intern. (Photo courtesy of Hobbs Family Farm).

Intern Profile: Angela Ludolph

Hello!  My name is Angela Ludolph and I live in Austin, Texas.  Originally from Pekin, Illinois, I moved to Texas to attend Texas A&M University where I earned a BS in Geology.  I’ve worked as an environmental consultant in Austin for the past 12 years.  A few years ago, I decided I was ready to try something new.  So in 2010, I returned to school to pursue something I am very passionate about: nutrition. 

For my internship, I'm going to be working for the Seguin LULAC Community Garden.  My main goal will be to gain community involvement in the garden - and I've already planned several approaches for that I can't wait to try.  I’ve never worked in a community garden before, but I know that it combines three of my favorite things - food, being outside, and helping my neighbors.....this is a win-win for me!

Intern Profile: Katie Matthew

Hello readers!  My name is Katie Matthew and I live in a tiny studio apartment in Canyon, Texas.  I have lived all over Texas and even a bit of Arkansas, but these beautiful Panhandle Plains are my home for now.  I am currently a senior at West Texas A&M University and I am going to graduate in May 2013 with my RN, BSN.  

My internship this summer is being split between the Wesley Community Center and the Mariposa Eco Village.  At the Wesley, I am in charge of the community garden.  This is an exciting opportunity because, as of now, it is quite sparse and needs a lot of work.  I have a lot of imagination and optimism, and I know that by the end of my internship we will be producing food for the neighborhood to enjoy.  At the Mariposa Eco Village, I will be classifying, identifying, and cataloging medicinal plants.  As a nursing student, medicine is a passion of mine and I truly believe that natural medicine can be a more accessible and cost-effective way to stay healthy, especially in rural areas. 

Intern Profile: Darcy Schulte

Hi everyone, my name is Darcy Schulte. I am from the small farming community of Nazareth, TX. My internship will consist of continuing an ongoing project with our small cemetery. I will also be painting an awning, taking care of our community garden, and assisting with a camp for at risk children. I have heard of Ogallala Commons for years now and knew that they were certainly community minded but I had no idea how deep into the communities it runs.  I am extremely honored to able to be a part of the change for the better. I love my community and by doing this internship I have specific jobs that I would not have thought of on my own. I also will be able to get to know my community and pass down that knowledge to younger generations.

Intern Profile: Coby Villarreal

My name is Coby Villarreal and [I'm] from the small town of Wilson, Texas. What I'm doing for my internship is...reviewing and researching plans for a fitness plan for the Summer Academy. I will also be assisting in the Inventory and Revitalization projects for Wilson Park and the downtown part of Wilson.

[I] believe that a fitness plan will get the kids more involved and also I am hoping to get the parents involved so something new is introduced to Wilson, Texas. I also believe that the kids will be excited to learn during school and then after they are done will have fun so [it's] not just all school. I am excited to be a part of this program and all the people I met.