MONTE VISTA - SLVREC Energy Foundation generously donated $10,000 on April 1, to the SLV 4-H Endowment Fund. 

Beginning in May of 2021, the SLV Area Extension office has been in a rebuilding period. After years of instability and a reduction of staff, Larry Brown has stepped into the leadership role to rebuild Extension in the San Luis Valley. 

In just three short years, the staff has tripled, operating now with a Director/Ag Specialist, a Youth Development/4-H Specialist, a Family and Consumer Science Specialist, a Juntos 4-H Specialist, an Ag Production Systems Specialist, an Office Administrator, and three part time office and program assistants. Our newest addition, made possible by 3 years of funding from the Outcalt Foundation, is a second, 4-H Youth Development Specialist. The team’s focus now is to secure permanent funding for this second 4-H agent by building an endowment.  

Historically in the San Luis Valley Area Extension Program there have been two full time Youth Development/ 4-H Specialists on staff. Serving the youth of six counties can be overwhelming for even two Specialists. Because of limited funding, it had been twelve years since we had two Youth Development/ 4-H Specialists. 

In those 12 years, the single agent would burn out from the overloaded work schedule, and when they moved on, it left the Valley youth without a 4-H agent until this position could be refilled.  In those 12 years, nearly 5 were spent with no youth specialist at all. The enrollment and quality of the program has suffered due to inadequate staffing. 

“The final question asked of me during my interview for the director job was more asking for my promise and commitment”, recalls Brown. “Anthony Lobato, then Chair of the Extension Advisory Board, asked if I were to be hired, regardless of what else happened, would I make sure the youth would be taken care of. The only way I can see to keep my promise is to create and fund an endowment account, from which the interest will pay for our second 4-H Youth Development Specialist forever, regardless of State and County Budget fluctuations. 

“My children are raising my grandchildren here, and when it comes to all our youth, we must create our own stability,” declares Brown. 

There have been approximately 70 donations anywhere from $50 to $50,000. The goal is $2.5 million. 

“We are extremely grateful and appreciative of all who have generously jumped on board and contributed to our endowment project. Once our funding in the endowment fund is secured, this community driven project will leave a legacy for all our youth.” 

Donations are still being accepted at the SLV CSU Extension Office. You can drop them off at 1899 E. Hwy 160 Monte Vista or mail donations to: PO Box 30 Monte Vista, Co 81144. For more information, contact the local Extension Office at 719-852-7381.