PC Extension Agent Manoukian Retires, Passes Over Reins

Retirement: (according to dictionary.com) is the act of retiring or of leaving one's job, career, or occupation permanently, usually because of age.

This is not the case with Marko Manoukian, Phillips County Extension Service Agent, who retired on Friday, February 3. Nor will you find him sitting back in an easy chair. There's too much life and energy (not to mention youth) left to slow down to that level.

Instead, Marko has plans laid out ahead of him, he is more or less just changing his focus.

Marko graduated from the University of Nevada-Reno and then earned his Masters at MSU-Bozeman in the early walk of his career. In Nevada, he worked for a resource consulting firm, and also for the State of Nevada in their water resource program. He served as the Prairie County Agent in Terry before coming to Malta. Marko filled the position when Kent Williams moved to Miles City, MT.

As to what inspired his work in the field, Marko said, "There is no higher honor than serving those who produce food, it's a basic need...there's not a crowd cheering you on when you get up in the middle of the night to change water or check heifers. It's a noble thing-we don't have grocery stores if we don't have food unless it comes from Brazil."

As to working with bureaucracy, he stated "...of the 29 years as a County Agent, 21 of those years have been spent repairing St. Mary's (Water Project) to a modern standard. Karl Ohs had a good vision, it's too bad he was short-lived. Things might have been different under his leadership." Marko stated he has worked with five Lieutenant Governors, as they are part of the working group for the St. Mary's Project.

"Senator Tester has been good – he stuck his neck out and got us $100M but it is only for one asset of the many assets at the project."

When Phillips County Extension service had the 100th Year Celebration, Marko had said there were a lot of years with two agents, one being a homemaker extension agent.

There have been 18 Extension Agents in Phillips County since 1917, Marko holds the title for the longest continuing serving agent.

In addition to the St, Mary's working group, he is involved in PhilCo, serving as president one or two years; the Hi-Line Wool Pool as secretary-treasurer, and also for the Phillips County Livestock Association.

About 30% of the agent's time is spent with kids in the 4-H program and their activities. The annual 4-H Camp and County Fair take a minimum of a week prior, one week of, and a week after to pull off.

Marko said as a single agent they have to be prepared to answer questions with answers as to what type of flower or weed is in hand, as well as be ready to assist the veterinarians pulling off livestock days, such as the recent Jim Schumacher Memorial Day. Over the years, the departments have become specialized in departments, and many depend on websites, facebook, etc., and Marko has no desire to partake in that learning process – he is more of a "hands-on" type of resource. He feels the need to reach out to the people has been lost over the years. The change at the university level has been the largest, it is no longer being available at the end of a phone with an answer, it is more focused on researching for budgets vs answering the needs of the people.

When the county agent program was commissioned early in the history of Montana, agents, they were told, "...your office is under your hat." Indeed, you do take your work with you daily in this calling,

The Manoukian family is well adjusted to the life he chose as a career. Their son, Troy, and daughter, Marley, were strong in the 4-H program. Troy works in the farm/ranch business like his dad, and Marley is the County Agent at Sidney.

The job has a few unusual things along the way, and once he was contacted by Warren Taylor, when there was a county celebration, to be part of a skit – in which Warren was to shoot him. Another time someone traveling through made the effort to locate the county agent and ask him about some home-canned meat they had packed for their trip. They wanted him to come smell it, and send it in for testing as they weren't sure if it smelled good or not. After a lengthy discussion he convinced them to discard the product to be safe and they journeyed on their vacation.

When asked if there were any benefits to the choice of careers, Marko replied, "...to be of service to others."

At the Jim Schumacher Memorial Day, Dr. Rick Levesque thanked him for his 24 years here, and he received a standing ovation.

Carol Kienenberger was County Commissioner when Marko was interviewed. She shared that one of the State people doing the interview said, "Marko is one of the best agents in the state; we were lucky to have him apply for our vacant position."

It appears that was correct, Phillips County is fortunate to have had Marko for 24 years. We wish him well in his quiet, subdued, and mundane retirement. The grass won't grow under his feet for sure, and he won't forget those who have been part of his life and career. Congratulations, Marko.