Jack Stivers steps in as county extension agent

Longtime MSU Extension agent Jack Stivers is back in the saddle again, sharing wisdom and ag advice at the MSU Lake County Extension Office in Ronan.

He signed a year-long contract following recent resignations of the office’s two agents — Taylor Mullen in agriculture and Claudia Andrade in family and consumer science. Both were involved in 4-H development.

MSU Extension in Bozeman pays the agents’ salaries while Lake County provides office space and an administrative assistant. The Lake County Commissioners oversee the office and are very supportive of 4-H, one of Extension’s mainstays, as well as other programs.

Since spring is coming and 4-H is gearing up, Commissioner Gale Decker said, “We thought it was very important to get an agent in there.”

Putting their heads together, the commissioners thought of Jack Stivers, who retired in 2023 with 32 years as Lake County’s MSU Agricultural Extension Agent to his credit.

“We contacted Jack, and he was willing,” Decker said, adding that Stivers brings loads of experience and lots of knowledge of the office, 4-H programs and the other duties the job entails.

MSU Extension in Bozeman handles all the legwork behind hiring a new agent — advertising the position, vetting the applicants and interviewing candidates. Screening of applicants for the agricultural position will begin April 1 so the hiring process is only beginning.

Meanwhile, Stivers has signed a year-long contract, Decker said, and will be on hand to give the new agent some on-the-job training before the year is over.