New Extension assistant enjoys staying close to 4-H

     Devan Cress has always been about agriculture, 4-H, and small-town life.

     No surprise, then, that she is continuing those interests in her new position, as office assistant for the Jones County Extension and Outreach in Monticello.

     From growing up on a farm in Olin, to showing for 4-H and winning awards with FFA, to earning an agricultural studies degree at Iowa State University, to her current home on an acreage near Anamosa, Cress has rarely been far from a farm or farm animals.

     “I have always been involved with 4-H, from being a member to becoming a leader, “Cress said, “and what better way to continue being involved with such a great organization than getting to work with it?”

     Cress, 26, is the office’s main point of contact for inquiries by phone, email or in person. She handles financial matters, bookings, office records and filing, works on creating flyers and newsletters, assists in running program events and trainings, and more.

     “What I like most about my job so far is getting to interact with farmers, 4-H families and leaders, and members of the community,” Cress said. “When people come into the office, excited about the events or trainings you are offering, it really makes your day.”

     Cress grew up as Devan Francksen in Olin, and enjoyed the opportunities offered by attending a small school.

     “I had the ability to participate in anything I wanted,” she said.

     She did just that, competing in sports, assisting as the stage manager for school plays, serving on the student council, and being inducted into the National Honor Society.

     She was very active in 4-H, and was a regular fixture at the Great Jones County Fair, showing cattle, chickens, horses, cats, dogs, and other small animals.

     Cress showed cattle and chickens at the GJCF, receiving many champion and reserve champion awards for both. She also showed cattle at the state level and the Iowa Beef Expo.

     She also had many FAST projects, including some that qualified for the state fair, in categories such as photography, food and nutrition, working exhibits, visual arts, and more.

     “One of my favorites was my ‘Volcanic Pretzels,’ that received a blue ribbon at the state fair,” Cress said.

     In the Olin 4-H Club, she was club president for two years, and held other offices as well. For FFA, she served as chapter reporter and earned the prestigious Iowa Degree.

     She graduated from Iowa State University in May 2015 with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural studies and a minor in child, adult and family services. She went on to work as secretary for the software engineering program at ISU.

     Her husband Jordan Cress – a former high jumper at ISU – is also an Olin native. He currently works as a sourcing analyst for Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids.

     “We met in 2003 when my family moved to Olin,” Devan Cress said. “We were in the same small class throughout school. We became high school sweethearts and have never looked back.

     “I worked for Iowa State for almost three years before moving back to Jones County when my husband was hired with Collins Aerospace.”

     Even their wedding had an ag feel to it; they were married Aug. 6, 2016 in the cattle showring at the GJCF and had a cattle-themed wedding.

     They welcomed a daughter, Hayden, on Oct. 26 of last year.

     “It was a rough start for her, as her first 11 days were spent fighting to stay alive in the NICU,” Cress said. “She is now 4½ months old and is doing great.”

     Devan still works with animals; on the Cress acreage, there are cows, goats, horses, ducks, peacocks and turkeys. Her parents are Marty and Sue Francksen of Olin, and she has three brothers: Marty, Jacob and Nick.

     She is a leader for the Olin 4-H club, but has other interests as well.

     “I love to quilt and sew, spend time with family, go fishing, have family movie nights, and go out for sushi with friends,” Cress said.