Since beginning my job as the new Colorado State University (CSU) Extension director, I have received a lot of questions about CSU Extension and what it offers to our community.
I am here to tell you that Extension is much more than you probably ever guessed.
Extension falls under the Office of Engagement and Extension at CSU. Our office is designated to promote the land-grant mission of fostering the accessibility and application of university knowledge “in the several pursuits and professions in life” for the people and communities of Colorado and beyond.
Let’s go back a little. CSU was established in 1870 as the state’s land-grant institution. Land-grant colleges were created through the Morrill Act of 1862. The grants of land offered to the states by the federal government to fund new colleges — and as homesteads to settlers who would populate the West and to build railroads that would transport people and goods there — came directly from the dispossession of Native American nations and people who had inhabited the land for centuries.
Today we prize the diversity and rich history that different peoples and populations bring to our academic community. That is the true spirit of the Morrill Act itself, focused on teaching, research and service, creating new knowledge and putting it to work on behalf of all the people we serve.
The purpose of CSU Extension is “to empower Coloradans to address important and emerging community issues using dynamic, science-based educational resources.”
We can provide relief from information overload by offering reliable, research-based information to help you make informed decisions.
In Archuleta County, your CSU Extension team is your information source for the unique interests and needs of our community.
We can connect you to the latest, most accurate data, and to faculty and staff with expertise in agriculture, horticulture, range, forestry, water, health and wellness, financial literacy, business management, community and youth development, and more.
We offer in-person programs that are educational and engaging and connect people to online classes and webinars.
We oversee the 4-H Youth Development Program, empowering our youth to become confident, independent, resilient and compassionate leaders.
Finally, the CSU Extension building can be rented for your meetings, parties and large events. The Fairgrounds can also be rented at different times of year through a management committee.
To learn more about the many programs, resources and services offered by CSU extension, visit https://extension.colostate.edu.
We want to hear from you. What do you want to see from your CSU Extension? How can we support your goals for living in beautiful, rural Archuleta County?
The CSU Extension office in Archuleta County is located at the County Fairgrounds at 344 U.S. 84. We are open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (we close for lunch from noon to 1 p.m). Stop in and say hi, call the Extension office at (970) 264-5931 or email cindi.galabota@colostate.edu.
CPR and first aid classes
CPR and first aid certification classes are offered every other month at the CSU Extension office, generally on the third Monday and Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. The cost for the classes is $80 for combined CPR/first aid and $55 for CPR, first aid or recertification. Call the Extension office at (970) 264-5931 to register.
Check out the online option on our website, https://archuleta.extension.colostate.edu/.
Pruning workshop
Join CSU Extension Director Cindi Galabota for a pruning workshop at the Yellow Jacket Southwest Colorado Research Station (northwest of Cortez) on March 13, leaving Pagosa Springs at 6:30 a.m. The cost is $15 per person. Space is limited.
Call the Extension office at (970) 264-5931 or email cindi.galabota@colostate.edu to register.
