New Deputy Extension Officer Joins Runnels County Office
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RUNNELS COUNTY – Kellie Morris is joining the Texas A&M Extension Office in Runnels County as the new Deputy County Extension Officer.
Morris, from Mesquite, TX, arrived at the Runnels County Extension Office just over a month ago, joining the office headed by Extension Officer Marty Vahlenkamp, ââalong with Officer Family and Community Health Officer Kandice Everitt, IPM Officer Haley Kennedy, and office / support staff Becky Wyatt.
Morris lived in Stephenville for 10 years before moving to become a high school agriculture teacher at Baird High School. She studied at Tarleton State, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in agricultural services and development, with an emphasis on the extension support concentration. Morris received a minor in Animal Science, as well as Family and Consumer Sciences. She hadn’t finished her studies, however. She ended her academic career with a master’s degree in agriculture and consumer resources. While in college, Morris was a student teacher who taught agricultural science and consumer science for several years.
The 30-year-old Assistant Extension Officer curriculum vitae includes teaching at 3 different high schools, the most recent being Baird High School. Morris said she enjoyed her years of teaching, both as a student teacher and later as a teacher after graduating from college, âI loved the different opportunities that high school and loved working with kids. “
Morris was an FFA counselor while teaching at Baird. When she was in Callahan County, she worked both FFA and 4H, working with the local extension service agent. Her love for all things agriculture started when she was a student at Gilmer High School: âThe agriculture teachers there helped shape me and taught me how to be successful. “
Morris’s degree in Extension Support Concentration helped her join the Runnels County Extension Office: âComing here to Runnels County was a great opportunity. I wanted to be in the audience and I wanted to get involved. When the opportunity arose to join this office, I took it. I have a love for agriculture, as well as for nutrition and health.
A website, www.withfrank.org, shows that 80% of students change major at least once. This is one of the areas Morris sought to help his students while preparing for college: âI tried to help these kids find an interest in what they really wanted to do. changed major 8 times. “
Morris, single, light trip, “I have my furry four-legged family.” The family includes her dog, Mollie, and her champion horse Futurity, Kid. The name “Kid” is a euphemism for the Chestnut Quarterhorse who is 16 hands tall and looks like equine perfection, “He acts like a kid and has a fun personality.” She loves to take the huge equine on the trails.
Back home in Mesquite, his father, Philip, was a postman for 36 years before retiring recently: âHe was very close to his clients. Now he gardens and works in the yard. Her mother, Teresa, is an accountant. Morris has a brother, Clayton, 7 years his senior, who is a police officer. He also frequented Tarleton where he competed on the rodeo team.
One of his recreational activities is a new activity: âI started fishing with a bow. This is very fun. We search and hunt for carp at night. We grind the fish and use it as a fertilizer. “
Currently, as she settles into her role, she is available to give presentations to civic groups, such as Rotary and the Lions Club. She is also available to speak to other groups interested in anything related to agriculture.
In case you stop by the extension office to greet the new Assistant Extension Officer, she loves herb goat cheese.
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