Eagle County’s CSU Cooperative Extension office has big plans for 2025
From gardening to 4-H, local office stays busy all year
Vail Daily archive
There are only three employees in the CSU Cooperative Extension office, but they get a lot done.
The employees recently provided an update to the Eagle County Board of Commissioners about their 2024 accomplishments and 2025 goals. Those accomplishments include everything from menopause workshops to master gardener programs to the county’s 4-H programs for local youth — accomplished with the help of a strong group of volunteers, of course.
Denyse Schrenker is the coordinator of the Master Gardener program, now in its 50th year. Schrenker told the commissioners that the gardeners last year delivered more than 270 pounds of produce to the Golden Eagle Senior Center for lunches. In addition, program participants helped with 37 evaluations in the “Beyond Lawn” program, a cooperative effort which helps residents save water by cutting back on lawn plantings.
County Manager assistant Regina O’Brien said she’s a participant in the Beyond Lawn program, as well as the “Garden in a Box” program.
“What I love is when you have someone who knows what they’re doing come to your home,” O’Brien said.
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Wentworth, the family and consumer science leader, has been leading the Family Leadership Training Institute. This year’s session began in October of 2024 and ends this spring.
Wentworth also leads the local 4-H sewing club, along with 15 volunteers. Local club members sewed pillow cases for the campers at Roundup River Ranch, and 38 projects from Eagle County were entered into the Colorado State Fair.
The Eagle County Fair and Rodeo is the big event for the local 4-H, of course. This year’s fair drew 521 entries and 187 participants to the Open Class, which draws community members to submit everything from big zucchinis to home-canned goods.
The fair is also the culmination of a season of work for 4-H youth. Local 4-H coordinator Connie Melzer said more than 70 volunteer club leaders coordinate a host of local clubs, but older members also mentor a new program called Fresh Tracks, in which youngsters too young for regular 4-H learn how to care for rabbits, dogs and chickens.
The 4-H youth also took a field trip to the Colorado legislature when it was in session in 2024 to meet with Eagle County’s representatives, Sen. Dylan Roberts and Rep. Meghan Lukens.
Those club members also work at the annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry, the biggest fundraiser of the year. The event held recently at the Eagle River Center raised about $90,000 for scholarships, belt buckles and grants for clubs.
Local resident Kathy Heicher said she grew up in 4-H, and is “continually astounded” by the breadth of services offered by the cooperative extension office, including occasional visits to look at her yard.
Commissioner Jeanne McQueeney noted that the extension office services are “responsive to the community.”
McQueeney added that the responsiveness of the cooperative extension is because “we’re the perfect-sized county — they’re real people right there,” adding that she appreciates the staff’s dedication to all the programs offered.
