Townsend settles in at 4-H, Extension Office

Sarah Townsend has been the new Phillips County MSU Extension Office Support Specialist and 4-H Assistant for nearly four months, and thus far, the most important thing she has learned is "organization is key.

"Especially when it comes to giving people information," she said. "So far, my organization is going pretty well, and I've gotten through everything once, it makes everything a little easier. I have a lot of help from some great 4-H leaders and families."

Townsend replaced Ann Wombold, who held the posts for many years, and she said her guidance was also very helpful in her transition into the new positions. Her new jobs duties include helping Phillips County Extension Officer Marko Manoukian with outreach, financial works, and correspondence, and for 4-H her duties are similar, but leave her in charge of the planning of certain clubs and maintaining the local clubs.

Townsend was a 4-H member in her high school days (the Hawk Creek Club) in Roundup where she mainly focused on horses.

"Once I was in 4-H, the character and leadership building skills were really good and have stuck with me ever since," she said. "They boosted my confidence and have served me well."

Townsend graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman in 2017 where she studied Agroecology which is loosely defined as the application of ecology to agriculture, as in the conservation of soil and water resources, the minimization of pollution, and the use of natural fertilizers and pesticides.

Townsend comes from a family of ranchers and makes her way to Phillips County from Buffalo, Mont. She married Martin Townsend in September of 2018 and Martin works in Phillips County out of the NRCS Office, a position he started a few years ago.

"I graduated from college and then started working at the Milk River Vet Clinic before getting this job," she said. "This position aligns a little bit better with my college degree. I had always had an interest in Extension and when I was going to School at MSU I worked with an extension specialist and really enjoyed what they did. 4-H was always special to me and being able to impact youth and help create tomorrow's leaders is one of the most difficult and rewarding jobs around."

Townsend said she has been to the past two Phillips County Fairs for the Grandstand concerts and will be in the thick of the 4-H events for the first time this August. She said that the people of Phillips County have been very warm and welcoming while she has transitioned to her new position and she looks forward too many years of continued service in the area.

"Putting names to faces is getting easier and everyone has been wonderful," she said. "I feel like this is a very unique and friendly community."