My name is Mallory Horinek and I was raised on a farm just outside of Atwood, Kansas. This is my first internship and I am privileged to be working for Ogallala Commons. I will work under Jessica Mews from Rawlins County Economic Development. I have worked for my dad on the family farm my whole life as well as working as a Vet Assistant for the past two years. Next year I will be attending Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, Ne, to major as a Veterinary Technician. I am very devoted to caring for animals. I also have a strong passion for gardening.
My internship topic is Local Foods, with a focus on Community Gardens and Farmer’s Market. Throughout my internship I will be working to start and grow a community garden. I would like to see a good portion of our community get involved, especially the younger generations. I want to include the elders of the community by learning recipes and techniques from them. I want to teach classes like safe gardening and crafts that can be used in the garden. I believe that a community garden will strengthen my community in many ways. As of right now, Kansas is one out of only three states to not have Cottage Food Laws. Throughout my internship I will be working on changing that. I hope to introduce a better Farmers Market in my community. I am excited to work on these topics in hopes to strengthen my community.
