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Eddy County Extension reports growth in school outreach; 4‑H membership steady
Summary
Wayne Shockey and Wanda Frost presented the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service annual report to the Eddy County Commission, highlighting $238,887 in non‑county funding, expansion of school enrichment programs, and a 4‑H membership of about 280.
Wayne Shockey, county 4‑H youth development agent and county program director for the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, told the Eddy County Commission that Extension raised $238,887 outside of county budgeted money during the past year and expanded school enrichment into 19 classrooms.
That funding “is funding that we secure outside of county budgeted money, state, federal, anything like that that comes in the form of grants and fundraisers that we do throughout the year to support the 4‑H program primarily,” Shockey said.
The report said the county’s 4‑H program had about 280 members at the time of the presentation and 44 active volunteers — a number Shockey said had recently grown toward 50 after new enrollments. He also told the commission the junior market livestock sale at the county fair generated about $1,200,000 that benefits 4‑H and related programs.
Family and consumer sciences agent Wanda Frost described adult education efforts, including a diabetes cooking class and QPR suicide awareness training, and said Extension will expand its “discovery boxes” for financial literacy and animal science to support in‑classroom teaching.
Shockey and Frost highlighted program changes and priorities: rebuilding ag and natural resources capacity after a vacancy in that agent position, expanding shooting sports — now the largest youth program locally — and adding a pet‑science kit for schools and STEM nights.
Commissioners thanked Extension staff for outreach and asked about staffing and recruitment. Shockey said he has invited Commissioner Klein to serve on an advisory board to address recruitment for the vacant ag and natural resources role.
The presentation was informational; commissioners offered support and did not take formal action.
Shockey and Frost said they are available for more frequent presentations if the commission prefers quarterly updates.
The Extension presenters asked commissioners to note program impacts on youth development and community partnerships as planning continues.
