Steamboat Springs — Tami Thurston is having an action-packed initiation to her role as Routt County’s new 4-H extension agent.

Routt County Extension Director Karen Massey said the fairgrounds in Hayden are as busy as they’ve every been continuing through Thursday morning with the 4-H Northwest Livestock Expo and 4-H members from seven counties taking part in dog obedience, horsemanship, livestock showmanship and even a rabbit agility course.

Thurston, a longtime Routt County resident with plenty of background in livestock and also in business affairs, was hired Saturday to replace Cassidy Kurtz, who is moving on to pursue a new career path, Massey said. And Massey herself just had the word “interim” removed from her title after nine months, formally making her the permanent replacement for CJ Mucklow as extension director.

“Tami has a lot of expertise in youth programs and is the former membership director of the Chamber of Commerce,” Massey said. “Her kids are in 4-H and she grew up around 4-H.”

Massey, who also is the family consumer science director, said Thurston shares the enthusiasm she and relatively new Extension Agent Todd Hagenbuch have for expanding participation in 4-H and diversifying its content to include forays into the sciences, for example.

4-H’er off to Grand Island

Massey said Logan Bankard will represent Routt County and Colorado this month at the 2012 National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational in Grand Island, Neb. He will take part in the shotgun competition June 17 to 22 and is the first local youngster to earn the distinction after qualifying at last year’s Colorado shooting contest.

He’ll be among 32 youngsters from Colorado traveling to the competition.

To reach Tom Ross, call 970-871-4205 or email tross@SteamboatToday.com