Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Angela Burkham, 806-677-5600, aburkham@ag.tamu.edu
Danny Nusser, 806-677-5600, d-nusser@tamu.edu
AMARILLO – A new Cooperative Extension Program position was approved by the Potter County Commissioners’ Court on Monday in an effort to reach economically and socially disadvantaged audiences, according to Dr. Angela Burkham.
Burkham, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service family and consumer sciences regional director in Amarillo, said this new position will be federally funded through the Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University.
“AgriLife Extension and Cooperative Extension Program have a longstanding working relationship across the state, and this will expand that effort to the High Plains region,” Burkham said.
“This position will work cooperatively with the AgriLife Extension family and consumer sciences agent position to strengthen and expand program outreach,” said Danny Nusser, AgriLife Extension district administrator.
Potter County’s minority audiences will be the primary focus of this family and consumer science agent position, Burkham said. The goal is to focus on identified communities and provide them with research-based knowledge to assist in making healthier decisions concerning their family, home and food.
While the new agent’s salary and travel will be paid for by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the individual will be housed at the AgriLife Extension office for Potter County at 3301 E. 10th Ave. in Amarillo.
Specific focus areas of the federally funded National Institute of Food and Agriculture are: childhood obesity, food safety, global food security and hunger and climate change.
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