WESLACO — Roxanna Salinas has been named the Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program’s 4-H and youth development agent in Cameron County, according to Dr. Ruben Saldana, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service administrator in Weslaco.
Roxanna Salinas is the new 4-H and youth development agent in Cameron County. (Photo courtesy of Roxanna Salinas)
Salinas assumed her duties Jan. 15, and will work with her colleagues at the AgriLife Extension offices of Cameron County in the San Benito County Annex Building at Williams Road and U.S. Highway 83/77. Similar to AgriLife Extension, the Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program delivers practical research-based information to small farm producers, families, aspiring entrepreneurs and youth throughout Texas.
Salinas is a native of Harlingen. She received her bachelor’s degree in agricultural leadership and development at Texas A&M University and her master’s degree in agricultural education at Texas Tech University.
Salinas had been serving as a graduate assistant in the state 4-H office in College Station where she supported a number of state 4-H events, as well as the state office’s Youth Protection Standards program, Saldana said.
“Roxanna has already been on the job in Cameron County for a few weeks and is already off to a fast start,” Saldana said. “With her 4-H experience at the state level, we are most fortunate to have her working with youth here in South Texas.”
The youth of a community are an often untapped resource, he said.
“While so many things seem to be scarce these days, we are fortunate to have an abundance of young people and they are perhaps one of the most overlooked resources we have to develop. Roxanna’s experience, enthusiasm and knowledge will significantly expand our capacity to deliver opportunities to the youth of Cameron County. I also want to show our appreciation to Prairie View A&M, County Judge Carlos Cascos and the Cameron County Commissioners Court for their support of this position.”
Salinas said working with youth has been a lifelong endeavor.
“Youth and the world are continuing to grow every day,” Salinas said. “I see ambition in every person I meet or see. I believe that everyone has a desire for personal achievement that can be used to our advantage to teach and reach out to all youth. We look to the past to appreciate progress, but we need to strive to look forward. We need to think about how we can make youth development in agriculture better.”
The eagerness among youth to learn more about agriculture is growing, she said.
“We need to take these opportunities and ride with it. I’m very excited to jump on board with the dynamic Cameron County 4-H office because the opportunities in agriculture for youth are endless, and their potential can benefit us all.”
