MONTE VISTA – The City of Monte Vista, with approval from the city council, donated $1,500 to the SLV 4-H endowment fund during a council meeting on Sept. 19.
Accepting the donation, via a large ceremonial check, were Colorado State University San Luis Valley Area Extension Office 4-H Development Coordinator Mollie Wells and Administrative Assistant Jennifer Norris. The goal of the endowment is to permanently fund a second 4-H agent for the San Luis Valley. The Valley has one 4-H agent who covers all six counties.
Wells said the Outcalt Foundation had provided the extension office with a grant that would help fund a second area agent, but they need to match the grant and need to do so within the next 3 years.
“We are trying to raise 3 million dollars all together,” Wells said.
Norris said that right now they have about $75,000, mentioning that they did have 3 years to match the grant to fund the second agent indefinitely.
Wells and Norris both thanked the council. Wells gave an update on San Luis Valley Fair that took place and spoke about a new award that had also been given out this year at the fair.
“Some of our numbers were a little bit down as far as members, but overall, the fair went really well. We actually kind of revised the indoor portion of it,” Wells said. “We also developed and gave a new award this year for our indoor members, called the Commissioners Award. What we did was we asked the commissioners from all six counties to come in and look at all the grand champions and they got to pick their favorite. So, we had one in the senior division, one in the immediate division, and one in the junior division, and that was all based on what the commissioner’s thought was the best, so it went really well.”
The kids who were chosen for the Commissioner Awards were as follows, for Senior Division Emily Seger was chosen for a vet science board, Intermediate Division was Parker Mitchell for a sports fishing board, and for Junior Division Corbin McBartlett, was chosen for an entomology project. MV
Wells said scholarships were given to Anicia Valdez and Antonio Valdez-Reyes to help them with college.
Wells also spoke about the Fair Royalty for the 4-H Fair. The royalty group has a lot of responsibility to maintain throughout the year.
“They basically represent not just 4-H, but they also represent the fair throughout the year, helping with community service, and assisting during 4-H achievement night. This year our queen is Tirzah Chacon, Queen Attendant is Ayanah Valdez, Princess is Toni Wells, Princess Attendant is Peyton Harmon, Junior Princess is Khalessi Reynolds, and Junior Princess Attendant is Syrie Tillman.
For more information on the local CSU Extension office or 4-H, call 719-852-7381.
