Cottonwood Connections March 2022

March 2022

Greetings from the Director:

I’m not a big fan of winter. Don’t get me wrong; I love the change of seasons that we as Kansans get to experience. As someone who loves to bicycle as much as possible, I would prefer a longer Spring and Autumn and less of the extreme heat or cold. As we turn the calendar to March I get excited to see that the first day of spring is just weeks away.

Just like the seasons change, there are some changes happening in the Cottonwood Extension District. Lauren Walz, the district horticulture agent left in December for a new job opportunity. Susan Schlichting retired from the 4-H Youth Development agent position in Ellis County in early January. And Berny Unruh, the Family Community Wellness agent in the Hays office retired at the end of February. The hiring process to fill these three agent positions is done in partnership with K-State Research and Extension administration and our local Cottonwood District Executive Board. We are on the list to fill each of these positions but it will be several months before that process is complete. In the meantime, we will hire a part-time 4-H assistant and summer interns to help us through our busy spring and early summer.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as the Cottonwood team members work to fill the gaps to meet your needs. Happy Spring!

Donna Krug, District Director