New Extension director dives into 4-H Week, and much more

     Being the Jones County Extension and Outreach director has much to do with 4-H and youth development, which is particularly pertinent during this, National 4-H Week (Oct. 3-9).

     Alex Monaghan is getting the opportunity to experience that, as the county’s new Extension director.

     “4-H Week is a great kickoff to enrollment for the upcoming year,” Monaghan said during an Oct. 1 interview in her office. “It’s a fun way for youth to get involved, to share their passion for 4-H.”

     In keeping with that, the Extension planned several activities and ideas for the 4-H youth in the county. On Monday, county members hung 4-H clovers on their lockers. Tuesday, they posted stories about famous people who have been involved in 4-H.

     Wednesday is 4-H t-shirt day, and on Thursday, members will participate in a Facebook-based trivia contest.

     Friday, they will post reasons to be involved in 4-H, and fun facts about 4-H, throughout the day.

     Members are also decorating pumpkins, to be judged by Extension staff members, for the chance to win a prize.

     But Extension is so much more than that, as Monaghan has learned in her first 30 days on the job. There are three other areas of Extension she oversees: Ag and Natural Resources, Community and Economic Development, and Human Sciences.

     “In the first 30 days there has been a lot of learning,” Monaghan said. “It has also allowed me to get to know the office staff, and learn the roles of each individual here.”

     That spreads outside the Extension office in the Citizens State Bank Youth Development Center, as well.

     “I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of community leaders, along with the (Great Jones County) Fair Board, and learn the partnership between the Extension office and the Fair board,” she said.

     Monaghan, 28, is originally from Manchester and graduated from West Delaware High School. She attended the University of Northern Iowa, earning a degree in communication studies and a minor in youth and human services.

     “That allowed me to get involved in Extension and Outreach by interning for Blackhawk and Delaware counties,” she said.

     She landed a job in Des Moines as program coordinator for Elevate Advanced Manufacturing, a statewide, integrated marketing initiative of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation which promotes careers in advanced manufacturing.

     “My role was to travel all 99 counties in Iowa and work with the manufacturing industry in each county,” Monaghan said.

     “I would set up events and do programming tours. School districts and community members would come into the manufacturing companies and get a good feel of what the industry is all about, the career opportunities, and what is out there.”

     She worked there for three years.

     “It helped me grow in community marketing programming development, and strategic planning,” she said. “I really believe that job helped set me up for this role. A lot of it overlaps into what I’m doing here today.”

     Monaghan found out about the Extension opening in May, applied and was hired, beginning work Aug. 25. She has since moved back to Manchester.

     “Things have been great,” she said.

     For the moment, much of her focus is on 4-H Week, and on the program as a whole.

     “If anyone is interested or has any questions in regard to how to become involved in 4-H, we encourage people to contact the Extension office (319-465-3224), and we’d be happy to share more information.”