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Delta George leaving Southwind Extension
unty Agriculture Agent for the Kansas State Agricultural Extension Office, is changing jobs. Her last day is today.
George will be assuming duties as Uniontown School District's Reading Roadmap Coordinator on Jan. 13.
That is not the only major shift in her life. She also is getting married to Jared Pollock on Jan. 11 and starting a new job on Jan. 13.
George began her career in August 2003 with 4-H responsibilities a part of her overall duties. In July 2011, when Bourbon County Extension joined Southwind Extension District, she took on the role as livestock agent as well.
George, herself, was an active 4-H member while attending Uniontown schools.
"As an active 4-H member, I had always looked up to my extension agents," George said.
For her, the K-State job was a way for her to keep her roots in Bourbon County and stay active in agriculture, something her family has done for generations. She is the daughter of Gale and Kathy George of Uniontown, lifelong farmer/ranchers. Along the way, she got to meet many new people all across the state, she said.
For George, the best part of the job was the diversity of each day.
"While working in Extension, no two days are the same," George said. "Our clientele ranges from young 4-H members to producers who are passing down their farm to the next generation. Their questions and needs vary so you never know how you might be asked to assist or what info you'll be able to provide - from soil tests and fertilizer recommendations, to insect and weed identification, to livestock feed rations, to a scholarship letter of recommendation."
She said the extension office and the agents are a great resource for a many needs, she added.
The memories she will take with her are of the people that she met with the job, both 4-H youth and other K-State Research and Extension agents.
"My fondest memories will be the judging trips I was able to take 4-H members on," George said. "Putting long hours in for practice and traveling, you really get to know some great kids. The Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes is a long, tiring weekend, but well worth everything to watch our kids succeed. I had the opportunity to coach teams who were awarded participation in the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo., the American Royal in Kansas City, (Mo.), and the North American International Livestock Exhibition in Louisville, Ky., based on their success at the state level. Those trips are great memories and rewards for their years of hard work and dedication to their livestock projects and fellow team members.
"I was also able to meet many wonderful people who were agents and specialist across the state. They were and will still be great friends, supporters and mentors. K-State Research and Extension has some great folks whom become more like family than co-workers," George said.
George believes the saying that it takes a village to raise a child, she said, and that is what 4-H does for children.
"It's a great feeling to follow a shy, young 4-H member and witness a transformation into a great leader in their school and community," George said. "I love watching members take the skills they learned and apply them in their successful collegiate endeavors followed by becoming assets to their chosen community and career field."
Another part of her tenure with K-State that she is proud of is the Sunflower Supreme Program.
"I... played a part in the development of the Sunflower Supreme Replacement Heifer program over the past couple of years," George said. "I am excited to watch for the success of this program and the positive impacts it has for our Kansas producers. The Sunflower Supreme program offers producers a set of guidelines to follow during the development of replacement heifers. The primary emphasis falls on health, reproduction and marketing strategies."
For more information about this program visit www.sunflowersupreme.org, George said.
"This is a new program which involves an after-school and summer boost camp for elementary students," she said.
The hiring process for the new K-State Extension Agent is likely to begin in February, George said.