I must apologize. Until the fair was underway, I was unaware that Blaine County was without a county extension agent/director.
Formerly the county shared an agent/director with Major County, but she has gone full time there, leaving us without. There had been another agent who dealt predominantly with livestock, but he left the extension service entirely.
Considering the holes in the program, last week’s fair and livestock show ran fairly smoothly.
I sincerely hope the county – through OSU Extension – is able to fill the empty seat. I hope the prospect is a firebrand, full of enthusiasm and determination to rebuild the 4-H and other programs headquartered in that office back to its former strength. I hope next year the show barns are full and the exhibits are cheek-by-jowl, crammed into the Foley Building. I want the Lions Club to run out of food, restock and run out again, filling the scholarship kitty full to overflowing.
How can that be accomplished? Do you know someone who might be a good fit? Someone willing to commit to the county, its youth, rural and community development?
Here’s how to do it. Go to the OSU website and locate the career page. Scroll until Watonga appears.
Then read about the great benefits and the important work that job entails.
There have been multiple recruitment campaigns that entice employees or joining the military. Who could forget ‘It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure’?
But here is the chance to have a lasting impact on the lives not just of youngsters, but on the entire county. It’s not just agriculture, although that would be a huge job on its own. There is also family and consumer science – gardening, safe canning practices and educational opportunities to make life at home better. And don’t forget rural development so that enjoying life in the country doesn’t mean being disconnected or having to work in the city.
A career in extension can touch and improve nearly every corner of our county, this extended family we belong to.
Yes, there are long hours, late nights and days spent in continuing education as an agent. But the benefits to personal development and the people around you are immeasurable.
It’s a job that becomes a lifestyle and it keeps on giving to both the employer—in this case the county even though the paycheck comes from somewhere else and the employee.