Grant County Extension staff on Feb. 13 presented their 2024 annual report and asked commissioners to consider additional budget support now that the office has largely restored staffing.

Jessica Massengill, the county extension agent, said extension activities reach a broad audience through 4‑H, horticulture and livestock programs and digital outreach. She reported five 4‑H clubs in 2024 with 95 youth and about 40 adult volunteers, more than 200 project offerings, and a 10% enrollment increase over 2023. Massengill said the county’s horse and livestock judging teams placed at the state level and a horse team competed at nationals; she also cited a newly formed parliamentary procedure team that placed fourth in the state.

Massengill described popular youth programs such as an “egg to chick” incubator curriculum that reached 353 students in 2024 (an 85% increase from 2023), and a YouTube channel with roughly 13,000 views. She said extension offers adult education on gardening, livestock technology and financial management for producers, and provides SNAP‑Ed programming through the I CAN (Ideas in Cooking and Nutrition) initiative.

Michelle Freeman, the county’s new Family and Consumer Science (FCS) agent who started in November 2024, outlined planned adult programs on food safety, label literacy, budgeting, healthy cooking and mental‑health resources. Both agents said they plan school enrichment programs and increased outreach to clubs and volunteer leaders.

The presenters reminded the board of a voluntary budget cut in 2020 that eliminated a part‑time position; Massengill asked the commissioners to consider the office’s community impact when evaluating an upcoming funding request. “This report highlights our efforts, but it does not fully capture the scope of our work,” she said.

Commissioners praised the extension’s volunteer training and youth accomplishments and indicated they would consider the funding request during upcoming budget discussions.

The extension staff invited commissioners to attend programs, and listed near‑term workshops including pruning, calving and a showmanship workshop led by alumni. The office said many activities are coordinated with New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service and funded in part through grants such as SNAP‑Ed for the I CAN program.