Garfield County is located in western Colorado and consists of Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Silt, Rifle, Battlement Mesa and Parachute. Garfield County has been experiencing steady population and economic growth. The 2020 population estimate is 61,084 and the median household income is $72,898 with $68,811 being the state average.
Your Garfield County Extension Office Provides unbiased, science-based information, classes, outreach, education, and volunteer opportunities for adult and youth.
Garfield County CSU Extension Advisory Committee:
The Advisory Committee shall consist of up to (9) nine members with the exact number being subject to the Board’s discretion to be exercised by the appointment of members to the Advisory Committee. All members shall be residents of Garfield County and shall represent as many geographical regions of Garfield County as possible. The membership of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed by the Board. The Board may also appoint a County Commissioner or the County Manager to serve on the Advisory Committee as an ex-officio, non-voting member. In selecting members for the Advisory Committee, the Board shall give such consideration as it deems appropriate to the level of knowledge of the candidate concerning 4-H and youth, family and consumer sciences, or agriculture.
The purpose of the Garfield County Extension Advisory Committee is to advise Garfield County CSU Extension in identifying and prioritizing community needs where Extension can and should be involved, evaluate the effectiveness of Extension programs, and make recommendations to improve the effectiveness of Extension programs to Garfield County citizens. Although the primary responsibility of the advisory committee is to advise on program needs, the committee may function as advocates for Extension and assist in budget support and liaison with appropriate decision makers such as county commissioners, city council, and legislators.
The Garfield County Extension Advisory Committee serves at the pleasure of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and is advisory to them and CSU Extension. Every member of the Garfield County Extension Advisory Committee is a volunteer. The commitment is for a 3-year term. The Garfield County Extension Advisory committee meets quarterly.
Current Members: Trey Fonner, Katie Rhinaman, Katie Snode, Jamie Wall, Vola Mercer.
Apply to be on the Extension Advisory Committee by completing the Garfield County CSU Extension Advisory Committee Application. Send the completed application to CSU Extension at PO Box 1112, Rifle, CO 81650 or email to carla.farrand@colostate.edu.
Meet your Garfield County CSU Extension Staff:
Carla Farrand
Carla is the County Director and Family and Consumer Science Specialist for Garfield County.
Carla was an 8 year 4-H member in Oklahoma. Carla took a break from CSU Extension to raise a family and serve as the Organizational Leader for her daughter’s 4-H Club. Carla returned to CSU Extension in the fall of 2014 as a 4-H Agent.
Food safety is a passion of Carla’s. She provides many different classes for CSU Extension –Garfield County. The classes include: food preservation, Master Food Safety Advisor certification, Cottage Foods certification, and Food Safety Works certification. Carla also extends the food safety and cooking classes to the school districts for after school programming. Carla has been an instructor and volunteer Master Food Safety Advisor since 1995.
Work Email: carla.farrand@colostate.edu
Dani Wesoloski
Dani is the 4-H Youth Development, School Enrichment, STEM, After School Programming, Americorps, and Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Garfield County.
Dani grew up in Parker, Colorado where her love of the outdoors and learning motivated her to pursue a career in agriculture. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Agricultural Business from Colorado State University. She then went on to pursue a Master of Science degree in Agriculture from Colorado State University.
For the past seven years, she has been working in agricultural education, focusing on active learning in the classroom and developing experiential learning opportunities for students. For the past three years, her work has been centered on the Front Range and she is very excited to be reaching out to the Western regions of Colorado.
Work email: dani.wesolowski@colostate.edu
Taylor Ruckman
Taylor is the 4-H Youth Development Specialist for Garfield County.
Taylor grew up as a ten year 4-H member in Sublette County Wyoming. Through the 4-H program, she had opportunities to serve on the State Youth Leadership team, attend state and national 4-H conferences, and explore what the 4-H program looks like in other countries through an exchange with Finland 4-H. These experiences lit her spark and passion for the program and motivated her to share it with others.
Taylor went on to attend the University of Wyoming where she completed her bachelor’s degree in Communication and worked as an intern in two different county extension offices and the Wyoming state 4-H office, bringing a total of 14 years of 4-H experience to her current position. Her family roots in the Rio Blanco and Garfield County areas led her here and she is excited to help grow 4-Hers and volunteers alike.
Work email: taylor.ruckman@colostate.edu
