Purdue Extension Cass County Internship

Vicki (Sonafrank) Dockery was the Cass County summer intern from 1994 to 1996. She cherished the sense of community and belonging she felt while helping things run smoothly with the extension educators, directors, and 4-H leaders. Her contact with the many 4-H friends she had made from other counties was a testament to the strong network that the internship program fosters. After graduating from Lewis Cass High School, Vicki majored in CFS Education at Purdue University. She has been a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Lewis Cass for 25 years while raising her three daughters with her husband in Walton, IN. “The advice I would give to interns and 4-H members in general is to observe those whom you admire and learn from them truly.”

Jessica (Pasel) Kranz, who served as the summer intern for Cass County from 1999 to 2000, made a significant impact on the 4-H families, ensuring their experience was positive and meaningful. Her work also fostered a strong connection between the 4-H office and the community. As a teacher at Logansport High School and a leader of the Bethlehem Helping Hands 4-H club, she and her husband, Kevin, stay busy raising their two children in 4-H and other extracurricular activities. Jessica’s advice is, “Enjoy the 4-H families! Learn all the ins and outs of the position to be as helpful as possible. Ask questions. Give back. Make someone smile every day!”

Megan Greer interned for Cass County in the summers of 2017 and 2018, seizing every opportunity for personal growth and learning. She took part in all the behind-the-scenes work leading up to the county fair, learning many professional skills, and seeing the hard work pay off for everyone to enjoy! After graduating from Purdue University, she has continued to help her community through her job at Farm Credit. Her advice: “Try everything! Get out of your comfort zone and learn everything you can. The extension staff is knowledgeable and wants to see you grow and succeed!”

Kendra Personett held the Cass County Summer Intern position in 2022, helping behind the scenes to make the Cass County 4-H Fair possible and seeing the youth’s smiling faces throughout the fair week, with Fashion Review and 4-H Camp being of special interest. After graduating from Purdue University with a degree in Agricultural Economics and completed the Honors Program in 2023. She now brings that sense of community to her job in the Cass County Prosecutor’s office as she is still active with 4-H as a council member and Jr. Leader Advisor. And Kendra has some great advice, “If you are considering being a potential intern in the Purdue Extension Cass County Office, you must be willing to laugh, smile, and have fun! The youth look up to you during and after this role, and you are making more of a difference than you may imagine you are. Take full advantage when being asked to be a part of a committee or simultaneously working on projects because you never know if you will love doing that type of work you are being asked to do. Inputting information may not be considered a “fun” task to you, but it will provide you with the insight and knowledge for other jobs in your future.”

Lexi Freeman was the 2024 Summer Intern for Cass County. Lexi graduated from Lewis Cass in 2023, and was a 10-year 4-H member and active in the FFA. She is currently one of Cass County's Shooting Sports Leader’s for the shotgun discipline, and is on the Beef and Swine committees. Lexi is attending Purdue University to study Agriculture Education.