By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

Ellis County was looking for a new Extension agent. Linda Beech was ready for a new challenge.

It appears to be a perfect fit.

Beech began work as the new family and consumer science Extension agent for Ellis County two weeks ago, bringing with her a multitude of experience from three counties in southwest Kansas.

Beech fills a position that had been open since the retirement of longtime agent Carla Morrical-Frederking in June 2010.

The other three Ellis County agents filled in until a new agent came aboard, displaying a group effort that impressed Beech.

"This is a staff that's a real team; they take lots of pride how they work together," Beech said. "That was a real drawing card."

Beech grew up on a farm in Saline County and attended college at Kansas State University, where she earned bachelor's degrees in foods and nutrition and consumer economics in 1979.

"I decided in eighth grade that this is what I really wanted to do," Beech said. "I respected our local Extension agents."

Following her graduation from K-State, Beech served as an Extension agent in Hodgeman, Stevens and Finney counties.

All for one, one for all

There was a hiring freeze through Kansas State University, which jointly employ Extension agents along with individual counties throughout the state, following Frederking's retirement. So the other Extension agents filled in.

Beech wasn't looking for another job then anyway because her youngest child, Emily, was a senior at Garden City High School.

About the time Beech had sent her daughter off to college at Wichita State University, Beech ran across a posting on the Internet for the Ellis County position, and it piqued her interest.

"The appeal to me was that Hays was a comparable town (to Garden City), and a well-known, well-respected organization," she said of the reputation of the Ellis County Extension service. "And it was a four-agent county rather than a three-agent county."

Beech had worked for the past 16 years for Finney County's Extension service, based in Garden City, where the agriculture and horticulture agent were one and the same. In Ellis County, those are two separate people who form the four-agent structure along with the FACS and 4-H agents.

Right time, right place

"After Emily was gone from home, I was ready for a new challenge," Beech said. "The timing was right.

"It was a natural transition, time to look around, and see what the options were," said Beech, who threw her name into the applicant pool.

Four finalists were interviewed, and Ellis County got a bonus with Beech.

Her husband, Doug Beech, works out of their home as the planned giving officer for the Kansas 4-H Foundation, which supports Kansas 4-H programs. The Beeches moved to Hays last month.

"We're very fortunate here to have such a great team," said Susan Schlichting, in charge of 4-H and youth development. "We all work well together."

Donna Maskus, a member of the Extension executive board in Ellis County and chairwoman of the FACS program development committee, agreed.

"We want teamwork," she said, "and I see the teamwork continuing."

FACS in the community

Maskus said she thinks Ellis County is "fortunate, because Extension is a visible side in our community. The agents live their jobs and share so much with others."

That was never more evident when Schlichting spearheaded a program priority survey for county residents, asking for their input in what capacity they wish to be served by the new agent.

"We thought that would be a useful tool as she comes in," Schlichting said. "She can take a look at that and can make a good decision about where she can go with her program development efforts."

Beech agreed that information could prove invaluable because "I don't know what's new and what's not here. It's that local leadership that's going to help me learn what the needs are here, and how Extension can help meet those needs."

She said her personal interests are home food preservation, food safety and family financial management, but she is willing to explore new ideas as well.

"I'm looking forward to working with a whole new group of Extension agents, doing familiar work but in a new setting," she said. "I think it's energizing to take on some new adventures and look at your work differently, and this looked like an interesting opportunity."