Wythe gets new 4-H agent

By JEFFREY SIMMONS/Staff

Kelsey Ewing is fired up about 4-H.

The recent Virginia Tech master’s program graduate became Wythe County’s new 4-H Extension agent on Jan. 10.

In recent days, the Wise County native has been visiting local schools and getting up to speed on the Virginia Cooperative Extension program that teaches kids about agriculture, leadership and life.

“I’m very excited to be here and I love Wythe County,” said Ewing, who earned her master’s degree in career and technical education in May 2011.

Ewing replaces Kelley Thomas, who resigned last summer.

In her new role, Ewing hopes to increase 4-H membership in the schools and also build up the after-school clubs, including a livestock club open to kids all over the county.

In addition to showing sheep and other livestock, club members could possibly help out at local farms or take a field trip to Virginia Tech, she said. Like other Extension efforts, the clubs are a way to expose young people to agriculture and new related technology.

Ewing, who did her student teaching at Fort Chiswell High School, will also be working with teachers to reinforce Virginia’s Standards of Learning by offering lessons on, for example, how milk gets from the cow to the table.

She loves to see students take a nugget of information and then learn more on their own.

“I like when they ask questions because they want to know more,” said Ewing, whose mother taught agriculture.

In addition to judging student presentations to determine what local 4-H’ers will compete in an upcoming area contest, Ewing will also lead Wythe students to camp in Abingdon this summer.

Students from Wythe and Bland will go June 18-22.

Even though she was never in 4-H as a kid because the program wasn’t available to her, Ewing worked at the 4-H camp in 2009 and taught classes in freshwater ecology, tree identification and GPS.

The JJ Kelly High School grad has a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in wildlife science and biology.

She credited the Girl Scouts with piquing her interest in the outdoors.

“They (Scouts) played a big key in wanting to be involved in natural resources,” she said.

While a student at Tech, Ewing participated in a month-long study program in New Zealand. She’s also traveled to England, Scotland and Puerto Rico.

“I’ve just always been an outdoors person and animals person,” she said.

In the days ahead, Ewing wants the community to let her know what it would like to see from the 4-H program.

Individuals can reach her at 223-6040.

“We’re the door to Virginia Tech,” she said.

Jeffrey Simmons can be reached at 228-6611 or jsimmons@wythnews.com.