The Galveston County Daily News

The staff of the Galveston County Extension Office extends an invitation to all area residents to attend our open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday at 5115 state Highway 3 in Dickinson. Come meet the County Extension Office staff and our volunteers, including Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Fruit and Pecan Committee members and 4-H leaders.

The Extension Office has five County Extension Agents, including Bill Holcombe, who has overall program responsibility for the county 4-H program; Julie K. Massey, who has program responsibility for coastal and marine resources; and Marilyn H. Simmons, who has program responsibility for family and consumer sciences. Our newest staff member is Phoenix Rogers, and she has program responsibilities for agriculture and 4-H animal projects. We all will be available during the open house.

The Master Gardener volunteers also will be available at the County Extension Office to discuss gardening problems and questions. Are you interested in starting a garden but need some guidelines on getting started? Are you concerned about an insect pest or disease problem with one or more of your landscape or garden plants?

If you answered “yes” to either or both questions, then visit the Galveston County Extension Office during our open house to talk with me or one of the Master Gardeners about your home gardening and landscape problems. The Horticulture Demonstration Garden also will be open for touring.

You also are invited to bring samples of insect, disease and other plant pest problems for a free diagnosis. Be sure to include your name and address with each sample. All samples should be enclosed in a plastic or paper bag to avoid drying out.

The staff of the Galveston County Extension Office and our Extension volunteers welcome you to come look us over. We’re part of Texas AgriLife Extension Service, which forms a Texas-sized partnership between a great educational institution — the Texas A&M System — and each Texas county commissioners court.

The Extension Service is the educational outreach arm of The Texas A&M System. From state extension specialists with statewide responsibilities, to district extension specialists, to county extension agents and extension volunteers located within each county, extension personnel have the knowledge and research-based information it takes to successfully nurture things.

Those “things” start with food and fiber products but also include families, youth, economics, businesses, communities and leaders.

So be sure to pencil in a notation on your “things-to-do list” to get acquainted with our staff and volunteers at the Galveston County Extension Office during our open house and tour our facilities and horticulture demonstration garden.

Dr. William Johnson is a horticulturist with the Galveston County Office of Texas AgriLife Extension Service, the Texas A&M System. Visit his Web site at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston.

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Phoenix Rogers joins Galveston County Extension staff

The Galveston County Extension Office has a new agriculture and natural resources agent. Phoenix Rogers joined the Galveston County Office on October 26, 2009. Before assuming her position here, Phoenix served as the Calhoun County Extension Agent — Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Phoenix graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Range Sciences, and from Washington State University with a Master of Science degree in Animal Science.

Phoenix’s responsibilities in Galveston County include assisting with the management of the county 4-H program; assisting 4-H members and volunteer leaders with all 4-H animal projects; and working with livestock, horse and forage producers. Phoenix is excited about working with 4-H clubs and ag producers across the county.

To contact Phoenix Rogers, call the Galveston County Extension Office at 281-534-3413, ext. 2, 5 or visit with her during our Open House program on November 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.