Sauceda becomes new extension agent for La Salle

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Cotulla native Karina Sauceda began serving La Salle County on September 1 as the new extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, headquartered at the AgriLife Extension Service office on Front Street.
Sauceda is a Cotulla High School graduate and earned her bachelor of science degree in agriculture, communication and journalism at Texas A&M University in College Station. She is presently enrolled at Texas A&M International University for a master’s degree in public administration.
Prior to taking her new position at the extension Service, Sauceda served as the public information officer for the city of Cotulla and assistant coordinator for the Cotulla Main Street Program.
Today, her primary responsibilities include coordinating the county’s 4H youth programs as well as being the point of contact for resources to all producers, farmers and ranchers, and to local youths in any agriculture-related enterprises or educational programs. She also helps coordinate training for agriculture-related licensing, monitors the county’s drought conditions and any burn bans in place, and provides access to resources related to prescribed burns and related activities.
As the leader of the 4H programs in the county, Sauceda has renewed a focus on bringing back the youths’ food shows and food challenge team events for statewide competition. The extension offices in Cotulla are the former home of the La Salle County Elderly Nutrition Center, and Sauceda expects to take full advantage of the facility’s commercial kitchens for training purposes.
The agent is hoping to enroll more youths in those and STEM-related educational programs and competitions, notably the robotics events that are popular with teens.
The county’s 4H programs are open to all youths from third through 12th grades (ages eight and up) and include the Clover Kids programs for those in Kindergarten through second grades. Sauceda said this week that she hopes to recruit coaches and volunteers who will help lead the youth programs, in order that La Salle County 4H participants may compete in a wider range of events. The next 4H Club season kick-off and ‘meet the agent’ event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 in the Martinez Park Pool & Pavilion in Cotulla, featuring music, games, food, face painting, and 4H registration.