Roosevelt County residents and 4‑H families urge commission to add FCS agent to Extension Office

Multiple local extension volunteers, parents and youth told the Roosevelt County Commission on May 7 that adding a Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent to the Roosevelt County Extension Office would expand hands‑on learning opportunities for local children and families.

Deveri Mathews, identified in the meeting as the state extension president, said there are 262 extension‑club members statewide and 65 from Roosevelt County, and she described two new local clubs serving younger families. Several volunteers and parents — including extension administrative assistant Charlsea Lee, state officer Meradith Eaton and volunteer Paula Grady — urged the commission to fund the position to expand classes and research‑based programming locally.

Eleven‑year‑old 4‑H member Elsie Mathews presented a quilt she made and said an in‑county FCS Agent would let her classmates access projects, trips and instruction that currently require travel to other counties. Donald Clark, a longtime participant, said past FCS agents were key to keeping arts, crafts and food preservation active at the County Fair.

Commissioners acknowledged the speakers. Commissioner Roy Lee Criswell and Commissioner Rodney Savage both expressed support for adding an FCS Agent during the meeting’s discussion of public comments and commissioner remarks, and Commissioner Dennis Lopez commended Elsie for her presentation. No formal funding request or job description for the FCS Agent was before the commission at this meeting.

The commission did not vote on creating or funding the position at the May 7 meeting. The item was presented as public comment and received positive remarks from several commissioners; any personnel or budget action would require a future agenda item and formal action.