2024 Annual Report

Note from the Director

Extension’s mission is to empower people with practical knowledge from Colorado State University and trusted partners. In 2024, we continued to have strong numbers of educational contacts, volunteers, and web hits in support of this mission. In addition, new data shows the impacts of our work: the vast majority of people who participate in our programs intend to change their behavior or improve a practice. This means that people will apply what they learned in order to make their small farm more profitable, improve their nutrition, better manage their home garden, and more. By helping one youth, one farmer, or one gardener at a time, Extension uplifts the whole community. I hope you see that reflected in this report and that you consider taking advantage of our offerings in the near future.

- Cary Weiner

2024 Highlights:

  • 200+ Educational Events
  • 12,000+ Contacts
  • 83% Class participants who intend to change a behavior
  • 379 Volunteers
  • 138,773 Website Views

2024 Staff:

  • Alison O'Connor, Horticulture Extension Specialist
  • Amber Webb, Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Specialist
  • Analecia Vasquez, Retail Food Safety Program Coordinator
  • Andy Weakland, Business Operations Manager
  • Bailey Schilling, 4-H Livestock & Equine Extension Specialist
  • Britney Filter, 4-H Administrative Specialist
  • Cari Brown, Marketing & Communications Specialist
  • Cari Weiner, Director
  • Cheryl Noble, Community Development Coordinator
  • Christa Timmerman, Extension Professor of Health & Wellness
  • Diana Castro - Ruybal, 4-H Program Coordinator (STEM/Juntos)
  • Diana Rios Esquivel, EFNEP Peer Educator
  • Dian Kern, 4-H Program Coordinator
  • Jessica Callen, Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Specialist
  • Lisa Auer, Community Engagement Extension Specialist
  • Maggie Switzer, Farmers Market & Food Systems Coordinator
  • Paula Petroff, Administrative Specialist
  • Rachel Wildman, 4-H Youth Development Extension Specialist

4-H Youth Development

Growing leadership & Life skills 

For over 100 years, Larimer County 4-H has supported our youth.  Learn more, see available projects, or sign up.

  • 845 Members
  • 241 Volunteers
  • 26 Clubs
  • 40+ Projects Supported
  • 86% Youth who indicated an increase in life skills
  • 1,300+ 4-H Projects Completed

2024 4-H In Focus

  • In 2024, two Larimer County 4-H members were elected to serve as statewide Officers for Colorado 4-H. The State 4-H Officer team is a 15- member team representing Colorado at statewide functions including the Colorado State Fair, statewide conferences and camps, 4-H Day at National Western Stock Show, and 4-H Day at the Capitol.

Nutrition & Food Safety

Reducing foodborne illness  ·  Providing nutrition education

Our nutrition and food safety classes aim to help adults experience greater health and nutrition, reduce foodborne illness, and help retail food employees gain marketable food safety skills

  • 587 Participants in food preservation classes
  • 280 Consumers intend to improve food safety practices
  • 251 Participants in retail food safety classes
  • 231 Adults intend to improve nutrition habits
  • 29 Native Spanish speakers gained a food safety certification

Larimer County Farmers' Market

Supporting local food by connecting local farmers & shoppers

  • $1.82 million Gross Sales in 2023
  • 73,660 Customers
  • 80 Average Vendors Per Market
  • 38 Produce Vendors
  • Supported Food Program Spending:
    • WIC: $3,325
    • SNAP: $20,686
    • Produce Bonus: $16,216

Visit us in 2025:

May 17 - October 25
9am - 1pm
200 W. Oak Street

LarimerCountyFM.org

Health & Well-Being

Increasing The Health and Wellness of Vulnerable Populations

  • Senior Access Points of Larimer County
    • 4,557 Visits to Larimerseniors.org
    • 85 Individuals who completed an Advanced Medical Directive through Extension

Reducing Household Exposure to Radon

50% of homes in Larimer County have unsafe levels of radon. In 2024, we provided 420 home test kits to Larimer County residents. Funding for the kits came from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.

Ag & Natural Resources

Supporting local farms, ranches, & natural resources on private lands

  • 26 Small acreage site visits
  • 41 Native Plant Master Students
  • 50 Educational contacts
  • 74% of agricultural producers felt more confident in soil health practices after attending an Extension Program

Grant 'N' Grow

Around 100 farmers, ranchers, and agricultural non-profits from across Colorado attended our 2nd annual Grant N Grow event. Hosted by Larimer County Extension in collaboration with partners, the event provided producers with critical insights into local, regional, state, and national funding opportunities to support business growth and agricultural production. 2025 grant offerings were shared alongside the experiences of past grant recipients in order to facilitate producer success with grant applications in the future.

Yard & Garden

Supporting Healthy Yard & Garden Management

  • 43 HOA, Tree Team, and Lawncheck assessments
  • 3,746 lbs of produce donated through Grow & Give
  • 8,932 Educational contacts made in support of healthy yard and garden management

Master Gardener Volunteers

Answer Yard & Garden Questions  ·  Participate in Projects  ·  Share Knowledge

  • 127 Volunteers
  • 1,826 Hours of Continuing Education
  • 5,860 Volunteer Hours
  • $213,070 in Value to Larimer County

Have a Yard or Garden Question?

Contact the Master Gardeners

Community Development

Increasing civic participation

Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI)

  • Bridging the gap between local residents & decision-makers.
  • Making sure that programs & policies reflect multiple community voices.
  • Supporting local decision-makers by bringing diverse community voices to the table.
  • 10 Classes Offered in English & Spanish
  • 16 Participants

Spanish Aging Mastery

Informing & supporting older Spanish-speaking adults as they take steps to improve their lives & engage with their communities.

  • 11 Classes Offered in Spanish
  • 10 Graduates
  • 8 Club Meetings for Alumni

Connect With Us

Register for workshops  ·  Find Fact Sheets  ·  Contact our staff

  • LarimerExtension.org
  • 970.498.6000
  • CSUExtension@Larimer.org
  • 1525 Blue Spruce Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524
  • Facebook: fb.com/larimercountyextension
  • Instagram: @larimer_county_extension
  • tinyurl.com/LarimerExtensionYouTube