The Webster County Extension and Outreach program found a new home in 2021.

The Extension office started the year in the former Crossroads Mall, where it had been housed for several years. In May, the office moved across town to a new site in the Wells Fargo building on Central Avenue.

The move was necessitated by the construction at the former mall, but the Extension office has settled in nicely at its new digs.

“We actually have less space, but we really enjoy our new location here at the Wells Fargo building because it lets us be closer to partners in the downtown area,” said Program Coordinator Linda Cline.

She said the new location also allows her staff to make new connections with other potential community partners.

Cline said they closed the office for a few days in May and moved everything to the new site in order to open up again in the first week of June. “It was a pretty smooth transition,” she said.

The Webster County Extension office welcomed a few new faces in 2021.

“We have a new regional director, Michelle Sackville,” Cline said. “We’ve been working on mental health stuff, so Demi Johnson is our behavioral health program specialist.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ISU Extension was able to continue many of its programs online, like horticulture classes, and more. The office has also continued some of its in-person programs like the Servsafe classes and Prosper’s Strengthening Families.

Carolyn Maschino, a program assistant with Webster County Extension, continues to offer Buy.Eat.Live Healthy classes to help families learn to choose nutritious food, cook healthy meals at home and save on their grocery bills.

“We did the Mental Health Wellness conversation in October and we’re planning another one in May,” Cline said. “We will continue setting programs and promoting them in different locations and avenues so people can still access all the information provided by Iowa State University.”

Last year also brought back the Webster County 4-H Fair, which was canceled in 2020.

“I think the kids were really glad to be able to have a face-to-face fair and see each other showcase what they have worked on all year long,” Cline said.