Hopkins returns to AgriLife Extension as agent in Haskell County
Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Darlene Hopkins, 940-864-2658, Darlene.hopkins@ag.tamu.edu
HASKELL – After more than 15 years away from the agency, Darlene Hopkins has returned to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service as the family and consumer sciences agent for Haskell County.
Hopkins, a native of Seagraves, spent 10 years in King, Dickens and Stephens counties as the AgriLife Extension family and consumer sciences agent before marrying and moving to Haskell in 2000. She began teaching home economics, English, reading, health and computer courses in the Paint Creek and Haskell school districts.
Hopkins started her new job in Haskell County July 5, said Miles Dabovich, AgriLife Extension district administrator in Vernon.
“We are excited to bring Darlene back to AgriLife Extension,” Dabovich said. “She has a long history of FCS education and experience along with 4-H. She will make a tremendous impact to the Haskell County program.”
Hopkins earned her bachelor’s degree from Tarleton State University in Stephenville and started her graduate studies at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
“I just really missed 4-H. I was raised in the 4-H program and 4-H scholarships paid my way through college. I really want to give back to the program,” she said. “I never intended to get out of Extension, but when I married, we moved to Haskell and the county agent job was not open. What can I say, life kind of happened.”
But life has now brought her back to AgriLife Extension where she will work not only with 4-H’ers, but also in the adult education programs, Hopkins said.
“I love working with the TEEA (Texas Extension Educators Association) ladies and with our programs on food protection management certification, diabetes prevention and dementia.”
