Archuleta County CSU Extension Director Robin Young is resigning from her current role with the Extension office this week.
During a work session held by the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on Aug. 13, Young informed the board that her last day as the CSU Extension agent will be Aug. 29.
“Trust me, it was a very hard call,” Young said.
She explained that she has taken a new position within the state Extension office and is “very excited about this role,” adding that she is not leaving Pagosa.
“Pagosa is my home,” she said.
Young’s new position will be the CSU state natural resource specialist, which will allow her to work on state-level projects, she explained.
Young has served as the county’s CSU Extension director for the past seven years, she explained.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long,” Young added. “It’s been a real pleasure to serve Archuleta County.”
During the Aug. 13 work session, Young spoke about this year’s county fair, highlighting Fair Coordinator Tonya Steadmon’s dedication and role in putting on the fair.
“It was a fabulous fair,” Young said, also mentioning this year was a record livestock auction.
She mentioned having the paid coordinator position was beneficial, but that the fair board could still have more involvement with coordinating the fair.
“There are expectations of this working board being appointed by the county commissioners,” she said.
Commissioner Veronica Medina acknowledged that putting on the fair takes a lot of resources and time.
Medina noted that the fair board has 15 positions and that only six were filled this year.
Young suggested that changing the title from fair coordinator to fair manager might alleviate some of the pressure and encourage board members to be more proactive in assisting with running the fair.
Young also highlighted her staff at the Extension office, saying, “Archuleta County Extension office probably is the No. 1 staff in the state.”
She added,“These people have performed above and beyond” compared to other Extension offices around the state.
Young noted that the timeline for bringing in a new Extension director is unknown, commenting that “CSU tends to move at the speed of molasses.”
CSU Extension Administrative Assistant Terry Schaaf will serve as the interim director.
Young also mentioned she will still be involved in the community and her contact information will remain the same in her new position.
“I really just can’t say enough about my time that I’ve spent here because it’s just been so wonderful to work with all of you,” Young said.
Medina asked what the county should expect in regard to the transition at the Extension office and where it could offer support.
Young explained that most of the staff has been there longer than she has and that they have dealt with four different directors.
Commissioner Ronnie Maez expressed that he has been pleased with Young’s work over the years, noting she has “been awesome” to work with.
Medina also asked about the status of wolves being introduced back into parts of the state.
Young indicated that the state has released wolves in the northern and central parts of the state, but they are currently not planning to release any wolves in Archuleta County.
“It’s kind of, ‘let’s make this decision and then ask permission,’” Young said, mentioning that is not a preferred method of decision-making.
She added, “As for now, I know that they’re not coming into our neck of the woods.”
Young also noted that wolves in New Mexico are not supposed to be within 30 miles of the state border with Colorado or Utah.
“Do the wolves know that?” Maez said.
Medina also asked Young about the biggest problems ranchers are dealing with in the county, inquiring about transient populations camping on private land.
Young noted that populations living in the national forest is always an “ongoing problem,” but that more so “the encroachment of breaking down into smaller acreage, losing water rights” is a concern.
She explained that younger generations of ranchers and farmers are choosing to sell off their land, sometimes in 35-acre chunks due to feeling the need to profit off the land, rather than continuing ranching and farming traditions.
Young added that the local ranchers and farmers need the county’s support in terms of acknowledging their needs, and not necessarily through subsidies.
Young explained that with the increased activity in the real estate market since the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased need in educating buyers and sellers on water rights in the area.
“I’d say No. 1 is water,” Young said, in regard to challenges that ranchers and farmers in the county are currently dealing with.
Maez noted that states in the country are starting to purchase water rights from other states to secure water needs.
Young encouraged that real estate agents need to educate buyers and sellers on water rights, specifically related to the state of Colorado.
“As more and more people come into the county, I think that that’s going to be the No. 1 thing to look at,” Young said.
