CSU Extension office in Lake County reports program growth, grants and plans for local Master Gardener training

The recently reopened Colorado State University (CSU) Extension office in Lake County has expanded programming, secured grants and is planning a local Master Gardener training cohort, staff and CSU officials said at a Lake County work session on Oct. 14.

Diana, the county'based CSU Extension staff member hired after the office reopened, told the board she has focused on community outreach since arriving "about 10 months ago," building partnerships, piloting events and collecting baseline data on community awareness of CSU Extension. "Of the 14 people that filled that out, 75% had not [heard of CSU Extension before]," she said of a registration survey tied to a raised-bed gardening program.

Kurt Jones, CSU Extension regional director for the Mountain Region, placed the local work in historical context, saying the county office had been closed after the Climax Mine shutdown in 1977 and only recently reopened under a renewed memorandum of understanding with the university. "Forty-five years between county directors was a long, long time," Jones said.

Why it matters: The office is positioning CSU Extension as a local resource for horticulture, wildfire preparedness, youth education and bilingual outreach at a time when Lake County residents have asked for technical help on high-altitude turfgrass, insect pests and other mountain-ecosystem issues. Staff said building recognition of CSU services is central to future program uptake.

Key developments described at the meeting:

- Grants and program pilots: Diana said she obtained a small CSU mini grant to supply 14 raised planter boxes (soil included) to households at or below area median income and that she has partnered with local organizations to run gardening workshops, a backyard garden tour and other events. She said a recent forestry academy drew 17 attendees and included speakers from the U.S. Forest Service and local fire officials.

- Statewide 4-H award: Diana said she was approved for a statewide 4-H mini grant to develop youth programming on artificial intelligence. "We get $55,000 over the year to do some programming," she said.

- Website and communications: CSU's Marcoms department is piloting one of the first six redesigned Extension websites; Diana said the site will include registration and a calendar and is intended to be attached to the Lake County government website. Staff expect the site to launch by year'end and are discussing a local Facebook page as an additional outreach channel.

- Advisory committee and community engagement: Diana said she plans to recruit a local advisory committee but is weighing frequency and format, noting the county already has many volunteer boards. "If that can get accomplished through an agenda item on existing boards'or community coffees'that's fine," she said. She also said she plans to extend invitations in January with the goal of having the committee up and running in the first half of 2026 if used.

- Master Gardener training: Diana described local interest in starting a Lake County Master Gardener program to reduce travel burdens for trainees who currently go to neighboring counties. She said the application window for Master Gardener cohorts opens in August and her office is targeting August 2026 to launch a local cohort so that the 14-week course (which typically starts in October) can be offered locally.

What remains undecided or contingent: Participants discussed whether a county advisory committee is necessary or whether existing boards and community events could provide input; Diana said the advisory committee is recommended but not statutorily required for counties beyond the statewide committee requirement. Timetables for some items (for example, a standing advisory committee or a local Master Gardener class) depend on community interest and volunteer capacity.

Meeting context and next steps: Staff said they will continue outreach at local events (including a high-school career fair on Oct. 28), finalize website content with CSU Marcoms, seek volunteers for programming, and proceed with the planned Master Gardener recruitment for 2026. Kurt Jones and Diana said they will continue to collaborate with regional specialists to expand offerings in forestry, horticulture, bilingual programming and youth education.

"You've literally been everywhere," one meeting participant said to Diana in recognition of her outreach; Diana replied that the last 10 months had been "busy, busy."