Anderson County Extension reports growth in 4‑H membership, ag literacy outreach and health programs

Truman Lamb, Anderson County Extension Agent, introduced new County Extension Agent for 4‑H and Youth Development Angela Hemphill and summarized extension programming and outreach achievements for 2024.

Angela Hemphill said 4‑H in Anderson County currently has 87 members and the extension office is working to expand membership, including plans to “double that number” during the coming school year. She reported that Ag Day, produced in partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Texas Farm Bureau, reached more than 600 elementary‑age youth last year through interactive agricultural stations. Hemphill said seven county members participated at major livestock shows with top‑five and top‑ten finishes at Fort Worth, San Antonio and San Angelo, and one exhibitor won grand champion Simbra at Fort Worth.

Holly Black, Family and Community Health (FCH) Extension Agent, told the court the Walk Across Texas school program engaged close to 500 participants in the past year and the countywide virtual program covered about 6,000 miles; the in‑school program logged roughly 12,000 miles. Black reported the county’s certified child‑safety‑seat fitting station checked 74 seats in the year reviewed and that seats are provided through Texas A&M Extension at a discounted rate when needed. Black described nutrition and senior‑center classes, school gardening partnerships (noting roughly 300 students in the Elkhart program) and other health outreach.

Lamb also reviewed adult agriculture programming: the county has an active Master Gardener program with about 57 active volunteers who in 2024 reached about 6,100 people through the farmers market, tree sales and educational presentations. Lamb estimated that agriculture activity in the county generated roughly $240 million paid to local farmers and ranchers and noted that much of that money circulates locally. He described pest‑management, forage and pasture programs, pesticide licensing trainings and a poultry avian influenza training hosted with industry and USDA and Texas A&M veterinarians.

Why it matters: the extension programs aim to preserve agricultural literacy, support youth leadership through 4‑H and provide health and safety services (car‑seat checks, nutrition education) that affect families, schools and emergency services across Anderson County.

Closing note Extension staff asked the court for continued support for volunteer training, program facilities and donor assistance to expand STEM and robotics offerings for 4‑H; staff said they are lining up summer camps, school outreach (including an embryology/hatching program) and other youth programming for the coming year.