Moniteau County will be seeing more of Elaine Anderson from the University Extension office.
Also, the extension has re-opened a Moniteau County location after a 30-year hiatus.
Although programming through the extension continued through a joint office in Morgan County, Moniteau County residents may now visit the USDA Service Center, 410 W. Buchanan St., 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday and 8:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday. Lisa Milligan is the office support staffer.
A former teacher, Milligan said she was familiar with 4-H, as a member herself and now her daughters are too. She is becoming familiar with the many other extension programs, she said.
She may not know an answer off the top of her head, but Milligan can help someone with a question navigate the best sources for that answer.
The office will hold an open house Sept. 19.
As part of a statewide restructuring designed to increase local extension presence, Anderson's position became the community engagement specialist for Moniteau County.
And, as the 4-H youth specialist, she also will be the primary resource for youth programs in Moniteau, Morgan and Cooper counties.
Her counterparts in those two neighboring counties are program experts for health and business.
The tri-county re-organization should help staff better cover the communities where they are needed, Anderson said.
Already she has joined the California Area Chamber of Commerce and the Moniteau County Region Economic Development board.
Her job is to be aware of activities in a community and sort of to serve as a clearinghouse. Then, as she sees trends emerge, she can help develop solutions or supports specific to the community's needs.
One of the most important services from the extension is research-based data, Anderson said.
Extension remains relevant as it provides services in other avenues beyond farming, she noted.
Local residents have had opportunity to attend grazing school and alfalfa workshops, recently, as well as a couples relationship class and a training on how to keep the brain stimulated as one ages. The extension helped bring all of those to the Moniteau County area.