About Me - by Brian Wathen

A picture of our high tunnel located at the St. Mary’s county Extension office. These tomato plants are a part of a trial in which we are testing some different varieties of tomatoes. These varieties are supposed to do well in the hotter summer heat and the growing lull here in Maryland.

Hello, my name is Brian Wathen. I am twenty years old and just recently graduated from the College of Southern Maryland, with my associate’s degree in communications and general studies. My hope is to transfer to the University of Maryland and obtain a Bachelor’s degree in agribusiness or animal science. I want to one day open up my own cattle and hog business where I sell fresh and local meat products and stock to local 4-Her’s and even other farmers in the area.

I was a member of the Charles county 4-H program for 9 years. During that time, I raised and showed goats, hogs and steers, winning grand champion market steer in 2019. I served as a member of the county Skillathon and Judging team as well and had the opportunity to compete in the National 4-H Skillathon contest in Louisville, KY where we placed 10th overall as a team. I continue to support the 4-H program and I am currently in the process of becoming a volunteer.

This summer I have the opportunity to intern at the St. Mary’s County Extension Office, working with Ben Beale, Extension Educator in Agricultural Sciences. Ben has showed me some of the trial work that the Extension is doing here at the office. It includes testing some of the yield data from different varieties of tomato plants. We even went out and delivered some plants to local farmers so that they could plant these trial plants in their fields. We will collect data such as plant height, number of fruit and fruit size. I am excited to be working alongside Ben at the office this summer and learning all I can about different areas of Extension, Soil Conservation and Economic Development.
Based on what I personally know and have seen and experienced thus far during my internship, I think that working for the Extension could possibly be a future career for me. I feel 4-H and Extension has done so much for me throughout the years and I would love the opportunity to give back. I have loved meeting new people, going to new places and getting to work with kids through the camp programs and it would be a privilege to work alongside the people who taught me all there is to know about making our communities better.

Getting a picture with my steer after winning Grand Champion Market Steer at the Charles County Fair.

Me with my fellow members of the livestock judging team. At the Kentucky Exposition Center, we were able to judge some hog and goat classes as FFA members had finished up a judging competition.