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UNH Cooperative Extension presents programs serving Carroll County; lead specialist to retire
Summary
UNH Cooperative Extension staff described 4-H shooting-sports revival, STEM education, food-access work and forestry assistance in Carroll County; longtime extension field specialist announced retirement in March and Karen Deacon will take county-administrator duties.
UNH Cooperative Extension staff briefed the Carroll County delegation on Dec. 12 about local programs that serve residents across food safety, 4-H youth development, STEM education, forestry and food access, and said some statewide funding changes have reduced staff capacity.
Anne Hamilton, food-safety field specialist with UNH Cooperative Extension and county office administrator, introduced the team and outlined programs that reach residents in agriculture, natural resources, food safety, 4-H and economic development. "One out of every four residents in New Hampshire benefits from assistance or education from Extension," she told the delegation.
Karen Deacon, Carroll County's 4-H program manager, highlighted the revival of 4-H shooting-sports programming in partnership with the Winnipesaukee Sportsman's Club, reporting 12 youth participated in a rifle program last summer and expansion plans for next year, including archery and shotgun with grant-supported ammunition if funded. "Next summer we'll have those same 12 kids do rifle 2 and we'll have some new kids coming in," Deacon said.
Klaus Telemark, extension field specialist in STEM education, described programs that train volunteers and offer hands-on STEM experiences to keep youth engaged and build workforce skills. He noted that volunteer training and teen-led projects (including adaptive-toy 3D-printing work with the Institute of Disability) are central parts of the STEM strategy.
Joy Gagnon with the health and well-being team described recent funding reductions for SNAP-Ed at the national level that led to staff losses; she thanked the delegation for county funding that helped retain some positions and described the Food Access Network's summer feeding collaboration that reached roughly 150 children with delivered meals and additional pick-ups.
Hamilton announced she will retire in March after 37-plus years with Extension; she said the SAFE (Safety Awareness in the Food Environment) program and statewide responsibilities will be reassigned within Extension. Karen Deacon was named to take on the county office administrator role going forward.
Provenance: Presentation introduced at SEG 907 and continued through SEG 1693.
