Mission

The mission of CSU Extension is to provide information and education as well as facilitate the application of research-based knowledge in response to local, state, and national issues affecting individuals, youth, families, agricultural enterprises, and communities of Colorado. The Extension Office implements this mission by providing leadership, guidance, direction and assistance in the development and implementation of programs in Archuleta County and the San Juan Basin Area. The Extension Office cooperates with many federal, state, county, and local agencies and organizations, as well as appropriate County and area program advisory committees.

2024 Accomplishments 

• Growing the 4-H program by increasing the program enrollment. 
• Made improvements to the Exhibit hall to hopefully increase rentals. 
• Made improvements to the parking lots to hopefully increase rentals.  
• Provided education to the Pagosa Springs High School, Healthy Archuleta and Growing Spaces Customers on Food Safety and Food Preservation.   
• Provided education to the  
• Hired a Fair Coordinator 

2024 Challenges

• Our Director has accepted a new position as the State Natural Resources Specialist. 
• Hire a new Director. 
• Having to close the building to rentals due to renovation improvements. 

Core Services 

• Responsible for overall planning, coordination, execution, and evaluation of County, regional, and state programs for the general public and various agencies – director and staff are expected to assist in developing, coordinating and participating in these broad multi-disciplinary programs in the following categories: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Family & Consumer Sciences, 4-H, Youth Development, Nutrition, Science and Technology, Energy, Horticulture, and Community Development
• Manage and promote the local 4-H program and youth development, which includes programming for youth and volunteers, by educating the youth in valuable life skills, such as leadership, ethics, decision making, record keeping, responsibility and community service
• Assist general public in day to day questions and concerns about a myriad of topics and subjects which are done in person either in the office or on site, on the phone, through e-mail, and video conferencing
• Provide services such as site visits, soil testing, hay testing, forage testing, insect and weed identification, small acreage management consulting, and various other services
• Work closely with the Board of County Commissioners and other County Departments in communicating needs, direction and implementation of programs, which includes developing and administering the County Extension budget in cooperation with the County Commissioners
• Responsible for scheduling rental of facilities and various county-owned inventories.
• Work closely with the Archuleta County Fair Board and Fair Coordinator to support them in any way they need to help to make a successful event.
• Collaborate with other agencies to increase education about priority issues and to encourage community participation in Rural Revitalization projects