By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – Those visiting or phoning the Tucker County Extension Office will be greeted with a smiling helpful face – that of Cindy Harsh. She started working in the Parsons Office June 16.
“I started working with 4-H as a volunteer six years ago as a Teen Leader,” Harsh said. “Each child belongs to a club, but the Teen Leaders is a club in addition to their regular club. It is for kids age 13 and up. We perform service projects.”
Harsh said the Tucker County Teen Leaders she works with have taken care of the Vespers down at Camp Kidd as well as taking care of the Council Circle at Camp Kidd.
“We have even gone in and painted the announcer’s box in the arena,” she said. “We do stuff like that and we raise money to go on educational trips.”
Harsh said she did not grow up in 4-H and said she doesn’t remember 4-H kids from school. “But I have fallen in love with 4-H and I love to volunteer. Not only do I volunteer for 4-H, but I have also gone on mission trips to Honduras and Bolivia.”
She has traveled on mission trips since 2000. She attends St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Parsons and she said she now travels with them to Sucre, Bolivia.
“In Sucre, Bolivia, I am in charge of the street kid dinner,” she said. “We work with an orphanage and we build housing. We are in the process of building a school right now. We work with the community and plan this dinner to feed 300 to 400 people. I shop with the mayor and we go to an open air market. She knows what vendor to go to for the best deals.”
Harsh said she enjoys working with the youth and working with the public.
“I can present a joyful attitude even on my worst days – that’s just who I am,” Harsh said. “Working here is a breath of fresh air. I have big shoes to fill here because Cathy Bonner spent 42 years in this position.”
Harsh said she is thankful for the ability to call on Bonner for assistance when she needs it.
“We just completed 4-H Camp and I was in charge of the newspaper,” she said. “It was pretty amazing. I had always just been a counselor and this was very cool. The three students I had were very interested and were into being roving reporters.”
Harsh said she is looking forward to working with the CEOs. “I can do most anything – teach me once and I have got it.”
Additional information about Tucker County Extension Service is available by visiting the office located at 215 First St. in Parsons in the Tucker County Courthouse or by calling 304-478-2949 ext. 209. Information is available online at www.tucker.ext.wvu.edu or on Facebook. Office hours for the Tucker County Extension Service are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
