RBC | Colorado State University Extension Vice President Blake Naughton and Assistant Vice President Lindsey Shirley from the CSU Office of Engagement and Extension traveled to Meeker on Thursday, June 17 as part of a University tour of the northwest Colorado counties. They brought with them Ali Eccleston, Julee Stephenson, and Laurel Baltic from the Office of Engagement of Extension and Jean Glowacki, the State 4-H Youth Development Program Director.
The tour coincided with the five day Northwest 4-H Youth EXPO. Vice President Naughton addressed youth who were starting the day with beef, sheep, swine, and goat lessons and educational clinics.
After visiting with the youth and seeing their animals, the university group met with Rio Blanco County Commissioners, Meeker Mayor Kent Borchard and other county employees, business representatives and residents for coffee and snacks and to talk about local issues and potential ways the university could become involved in finding solutions. The group also talked about housing, wolves, wild horses and the economic future for Rio Blanco County.
The University is in the process of hiring a regional specialist to assist with economic development on the west slope and Rio Blanco and Moffat Counties are definitely in the conversation to house this position. All positions to be funded by the university will be located in rural areas impacted by recent economic downturns.
Rio Blanco County hosted the five-day Northwest 4-H Youth expo last week and was visited by representatives from Colorado State University’s Office of Engagement and Extension (OEE). Left to right are RBC Human Resources Director Laura Smith, Katie Dunlap with Bank of the San Juans, CSU Development Director OEE Laurel Baltic, CSU Assistant Director of Development OEE Ali Eccleston, Commissioner Ty Gates, CSU Assistant Vice President for Engagement and Extension Lindsey Shirley, Commissioner Jennifer O’Hearon, former county RBC extension agent Iris Franklin, Meeker mayor Kent Borchard, CSU Garfield County Extension Director Carla Farrand, Commissioner Ginny Love, CSU Vice President for Engagement and Extension Blake Naughton, CSU 4-H Youth Development Program Coordinator Jean Glowacki, CSU Rio Blanco County Extension Director Linda Masters, CSU Director of Communications Julee Stephenson, and former RBC 4-H leader and longtime program supporter Kathy Nelson. | CAITLIN WALKER PHOTO
Special to the Herald Times
