Starr County cooperative extension reports growth in 4‑H enrollment, community health outreach and adds family-health agent

Prairie View Cooperative Extension staff updated the Starr County Commissioners Court on a range of programs on April 14 and introduced a new family and community health agent stationed in Starr County.

Dr. Ruben Saldana, district extension administrator for District 12, told the court extension activities span the county and thanked commissioners for their support that helps the office operate locally. He described recent efforts to work with ranchers on a three-part reproduction program in cooperation with the East Foundation, local bull-test and improvement programs, and a feral hog-trapping outreach effort.

Saldana also reported growth in 4‑H participation: the county’s 4‑H program increased to about 362 youth this year, up from 358 the prior year and 298 previously. Of those, roughly 303 participated in the county fair’s livestock projects this year and about 90 took part in leadership contests such as culinary arts and agricultural product identification. Extension staff said youth from the county have placed at state and national competitions in shooting sports and other events.

The family and community health program has provided outreach on heart health, nutrition and financial literacy; staff said those efforts reached roughly 250 residents through direct programming and larger healthy‑South‑Texas events that reached thousands of youth in Rio Grande City and Roma. Extension staff reported that a home‑loan and home‑repair grant program has produced three sign-ups so far in 2025, with about $975,000 in loans secured historically through the program.

Dr. Saldana introduced Victorino Cantuno as a new family and community health agent assigned to Starr County. Cantuno, a Rio Grande City native and graduate of Texas A&M University–Kingsville, said he was “thankful for this opportunity to educate our youth and our adult” residents and looked forward to community programming.

Why it matters

Extension programs support local agriculture, youth development and public‑health education. Commissioners’ continued financial and in‑kind support enables the office to host local events, deliver technical assistance to ranchers and expand nutrition and wellness programming.

Speakers quoted

"All of those things that they do would not be possible without y'all support," Dr. Ruben Saldana said, addressing the court.

"I'm happy, thankful for this opportunity to educate our youth and our adult," Victorino Cantuno said when introduced as the new agent.