After years of being short staffed, the Montezuma County Colorado State University Extension will again have two agricultural agents.
Applicants for the position are being reviewed, with a start time of this year or early next year, said Greg Felsen, county CSU extension director.
The new agent will focus on crops, livestock, rangelands, natural resources and small acreage management.
In addition to director management duties, Felsen also serves as an extension agent with a concentration on horticulture, community and economic development, educational programming and food security.
“It is an exciting time. Having a second agent is a great opportunity for us to provide more services to our county and will allow us to reach the new landowners who are moving into the area,” he said.
The new agent will work with conventional crops, specialty crops and pastures. Programs will address best-use practices that deal with growing crops and livestock in a challenging environment and ongoing drought with an overall objective of agricultural profitability and sustainability.
“With more people moving here, we are want to make sure they are involved in the community and managing the land,” Felsen said.
Montezuma County’s population has increased to 26,110 people in 2019, up from 25,535 in 2010, according to the U.S. Census, a 2.25% increase.
A job posting and description for the new position can be found at the Montezuma County CSU Extension Facebook Page.
The salary range is $42,000 to $60,000 depending on education and experience. The deadline to apply was Sept. 20. If a good candidate is not identified, the deadline for applications will be extended.
The Montezuma County CSU Extension office has not had two full-time agriculture extension for many years after Jan Sennhenn retired in 2013. CSU pays 80% of the salaries, and the county picks up 20% and provides office space and professional support.
County commissioners have been pushing CSU to provide the second full-time extension agent. Commissioners cite a 2008 Memorandum of Understanding between CSU and the county that states CSU agrees to place two agricultural agents in the county.
Budget cuts at CSU were cited as the reason for reduced staffing.
“We have not always had the two. When we met with CSU in July about it, they were super agreeable to make it happen, and the job notice went out,” said County Administrator Shak Powers.
In 2017, the county extension office experienced some turmoil when then the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners lost faith in extension director Tom Hooten and sought to replace him.
CSU agreed, and Kacey Riedel was hired as the new director in 2018. Hooten stayed on as an extension agent then later retired, leaving just one agent again.
Riedel resigned in 2019, and Felsen was hired as Montezuma County CSU Extension director in 2020. Felsen previously worked for more than nine years as the 4-H youth development agent for the La Plata County extension office.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
