PRIMGHAR, Iowa – Cheryl Heronemus is doing a lot of listening as she begins her new position as director for Iowa State University Extension’s Region 1, covering Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola and Sioux counties.

In the job since Aug. 1, Heronemus said, “My timeline in the first six months is to get to know the councils and the county staff  — to personally get to know them, their needs and their expectations.”

She’ll be working with the elected nine-member extension council in each of the six counties.

“They are the voice of the community.  They are the best people to say what the needs of the community are,” she said.

Each council functions differently as each considers local needs for ISU Extension educational programs, Heronemus said.

Dickinson County has hired a program coordinator, and Clay County may do so as well. Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola and Sioux counties are considering various sharing arrangements for local staff.

“Some of the counties have worked together before,” she noted, but exactly how all six councils will relate to each other is still being determined.

“It’s going to be their decision,” she said. “As time goes on I think we’ll do more collaboration. A lot of strength can be realized as they work together.”

ISU Extension supports healthy people, healthy environments and healthy economies. Heronemus noted some current ISU Extension programs in the region. The counties are reviewing their county fairs and are gearing up for the fall 4-H year with community club activity. Farmland leasing meetings are ongoing.

“Programs don’t stop just because Extension is restructuring,” Heronemus said. “I think the regional director position is still evolving. The role might be a little different in each ISU Extension region. Restructuring gives us an opportunity to look at how we’re doing things.”

Heronemus has her office in the O’Brien County Extension Office, 340 2nd Street SE, Primghar, Iowa. She can be reached by phone at (712) 957-5045 and by e-mail at hero@iastate.edu.

She began her ISU Extension career in 1977 as a 4-H program aide in Sioux County. She held various positions with the 4-H youth development program until 1994, when she became Sioux County director. She added Lyon County to her role when she became the county’s interim director in January 2009.

Heronemus received a bachelor’s degree in elementary/special education from Northwestern College and a master’s degree in administrative studies/human resource management from University of South Dakota. She grew up in northwest Iowa, and lives on the family farm near Orange City and Alton, where she and her husband raise beef cattle.

“We’re small hobby farmers. We enjoy that,” she said.

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