Shelly Hathorn Retirement Announcement

“Shelly certainly exemplifies a true Extension professional through her continued commitment to extend research-based information to improve the lives of New Mexicans and their communities. I have had the pleasure of working with Shelly for over 24 years and she is truly all about serving her constituents and improving their quality of life. Not only has Shelly provided leadership to our Extension Family and Consumer Sciences program, she also provided mentorship to many county faculty throughout the state. Thank you, Shelly for all that you have done for the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service, the College of ACES, NMSU, and the state of New Mexico. We all wish you the very best in retirement.” -Jon Boren, Associate Dean and Director NMSU Cooperative Extension

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Please send Shelly your favorite memories, pictures or stories! Sign our virtual farewell card

Contact Shelly

The San Juan County Extension Office is currently closed to the public, but it you would like to make an appointment to say your farewells or drop off a note, please call 505-334-9496. All appointments will need to be scheduled before 12/11/2020

If you wish to deliver or mail a card or letter for Shelly please send it to: 213-A South Oliver Drive Aztec NM 87410

Shelly Hathorn Retirement

Shelly Hathorn began her Extension career on March 1, 1990, in the Colfax County Office in Raton, New Mexico. Prior to working for New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, she taught five years in the Maxwell Municipal Schools and Clayton Public Schools, teaching junior high and high school biology, general science, health, and home economics. Shelly had also worked part-time during the fall 1989 and early spring 1990 as a temporary home economist when she was asked to present programs to the Colfax County Extension Clubs in the absence of a full time county home economist. This temporary position led to her very successful career of over 30 years with New Mexico State University.

Growing up on a ranch in the small New Mexico community of Amistad, Shelly participated as a youth in the Union County 4-H program, with Extension veterans Owaissa Heiman as her county home economist and David Graham as her county agriculture agent. She also was an active member of the local FFA chapter. It was here that Shelly began gathering and growing her knowledge of and love for grass-roots Extension programming.

In Colfax County, Shelly worked extensively with both adults and youth, and with the public. She organized and carried out programming for the very active Extension Clubs/Family Community Education (FCE) Clubs. She also conducted numerous nutrition programs and health-related programming over the years, including the Children Youth and Families At Risk (CYFAR) grant program, the ICAN program, Kitchen Creations Diabetic Cooking School, and Joslin Diabetic Classes, just to name a few. Shelly was the lead organizer for the highly successful annual Family Health Fair held in Raton for over 15 years; an event which is still being held for the community.

Shelly conducted home economics related programming through traditional 4-H clubs, activities and events. She also led non-traditional programming as well via school-enrichment programming in the schools or through non-school special interest programs. She also served as the organizational leader of the Rocky Mountain 4-H club, assisting members, parents and officers to conduct regular club business, raising funds, helping with project work and guiding the youth in their community service work. Shelly also assisted with all 4-H council activities; and with club, county, district, state and national 4-H events and competitions.

She was an integral part of the Colfax County Fair, organizing the indoor exhibits, quilt show, and working on any area needed. Shelly was an active member of the local Silver Spur CowBelles, later taking on state-level responsibilities for the organization. She also served as Colfax County Extension Program Director from August 2006 through 2010.

In January 2011, Shelly transferred to an agent position in the San Juan County Extension Office. After working in Colfax County for over 20 years, raising a family, and being a huge part of the community, Shelly left Colfax County a much better place than when she began her Extension career. -Sandra Barraza, retired NMSU Ag Agent

Her career of over 31 years in Extension leaves a legacy of excellence and dedication. Shelly has served as a role model for both 4-H members and agents alike, always leading them to do their personal best and continue pushing towards greatness. She truly "bleeds green" as a 4-H agent and leads the state as a mentor for agents and exemplarily agent for youth participants and adult volunteers. There is little in the New Mexico 4-H Family and Consumer Science program that Shelly has not contributed to over the course of her career. She has served over 20,000 4-H members in her career and has changed countless lives in the process. Her legacy as an agent, but also as a friend, will continue on far past her time in Extension. As a staff, we wish her the very best in her next chapter. Her shoes will be impossible to fill, but we will do our best knowing that she has prepared us to be the very best. -Bonnie Hopkins, San Juan County Ag Agent