Pagosa Springs Rotary Club
The new extension agent, Robin Young, drew extensive interest with her talk to Rotary.
Robin began by explaining the basics of the Colorado State University Extension Program, locally based in an office at the County Fairgrounds. The focus, she said, is “practical education to develop skills.” She identified multiple fields of emphasis: agriculture, energy, natural resources, farm and consumer services, food systems, 4-H for youth, horticulture, and small acreage management.
Robin mentioned several upcoming events:
- On January 18, a regional backyard gardening workshop, including discussion of “high tunnel” gardens, to be held in Bayfield;
- On January 22, a presentation by the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership (which recently announced having won grants to fund construction at its site in Pagosa Springs’ Centennial park of two additional grow domes);
- January 223 and February 10, Radon Workshops (Robin said Radon is frequently found in Colorado); and
- February 7, a regional Beef Symposium dealing with livestock health and nutrition, to be held this year under a plan of annual site- rotation in Farmington, N.M.
However, she pointed out that the Extension Program hosts events throughout the year. All are publicized in advance in the Pagosa Springs Sun, and details are provided for interested parties such as time and specific locations. In addition, Robin invited residents to contact her office for information: the phone number is 970-264-5931, and email is Robin.young@colostate.edu.
Robin also gave Rotarians a brief summary of her personal background. She grew up in Tuscon, studied forestry in Flagstaff, was a teacher in Woodland Park for a few years, and served prior to coming to Pagosa as the Custer County Extension Agent (east of the San Luis Valley). She was also the Custer County Weed Control Manager, and was honored last year as the Colorado Weed Manager of the year.