Sara Marta now serves as the Sierra County Cooperative Extension Service program director. Marta grew up in Winston, New Mexico, went to school in Truth or Consequences and graduated from New Mexico State University. (Courtesy photo)

Savannah Graves has been hired as the new program director and 4-H agricultural agent for the Hidalgo County Cooperative Extension Service office. Graves grew up in Las Cruces and graduated from New Mexico State University. (Courtesy photo)

New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service offices in Hidalgo, Luna and Sierra counties are welcoming new 4-H agents and program directors. Savannah Graves, Jennifer Shafer and Sara Marta are all aiming to form a great relationship with their communities in their new roles and hope to be able to show them what their offices have to offer.

he Extension Service is part of NMSU’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Graves, the new program director and 4-H agricultural agent for the Hidalgo County Cooperative Extension Service office, grew up in Las Cruces and graduated from NMSU with a degree in Agricultural Education and Extension. Graves oversees all Extension services provided such as 4-H/youth development, livestock, horticulture, agriculture and home economics.

“I knew I wanted this job because I could work with youth and agriculture,” Graves said. “I find fulfillment with my life when I can help kids achieve their goals or reach their full potential, which is even more fun with it involves ag type traits.”

Graves said she’s looking forward to opening many new doors for the people of her community and to be able to take youth to different parts of the state to participate in different events from leadership camps to showing livestock. She also looks forward to providing new trainings and workshops for people to help improve their own projects.

“I would like the community to know that I am here and willing to help. If they have questions or are interested in help, I want them to contact the county Extension office and we will get whatever help we can. There are many specialists who are willing to help and guide us to a solution,” Graves said.

Shafer, who is now the Extension family and consumer sciences and 4-H agent for Luna County, was a 4-H member for 10 years. During that time, she served as a New Mexico State 4-H Ambassador, a delegate to the National 4-H Conference and won a trip to the National 4-H Congress. Shafer graduated from NMSU in 1995 with a degree in Elementary Education and taught third, fourth and sixth grade. In the fall she plans to begin working on her master’s in Agriculture and Extension Education.

“I provide leadership and guidance to Extension educational programs for adults and youth in Luna County. This includes 4-H clubs, which encourage members to learn by doing and foster leadership and citizenship,” Shafer said. “My focus is on family and consumer programs like nutrition, fiber crafts and others. I also support the efforts of the Southwestern New Mexico State Fair in Deming.”

Shafer explained that she would like to develop workshops and programs to encourage hands-on activities for youth including sewing, baking and consumer decision-making and that she would also like to develop programs for adults focusing on healthy living including nutrition and fitness.

“I would love to visit with community members about programs they would like to see and figure out how I can facilitate that. Anyone who is interested in learning more should come by the Luna County Extension office,” Shafer said.

Marta, Sierra County Extension program director, grew up in Winston, New Mexico, and went to school in Truth or Consequences. She graduated from NMSU and received a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Ag Extension Education and a master’s in Range Science. While in graduate school Marta was part of the Student Career Employment Program with the U.S. Forest Service. After graduating she was placed with the Forest Service at the Quemado and Reserve Ranger Districts as a Rangeland Management Specialist and later worked for the Natural Resource Conservation Service in Truth or Consequences as a Range Conservationist.

Marta works with the community to share research-based information from NMSU and plans youth development activities and programs through 4-H. She hopes to educate the community on how Extension can serve them and help make the community better and increase the 4-H enrollment and involvement.

“I am very excited to be in this position! I look forward to working with Sierra County for many years to come,” Marta said.