It is fulfilling for Bridgett Martin to be able to help educate individuals on ways to improve their way of life.

Martin joined the Polk County Extension Office as the new Cooperative Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Science and 4H April 3.

"All and all it seems like it has been a really good fit so far," Martin said. "Basically we are responsible for empowering individuals to improve their way of life.

"Whether it be through parenting classes, child care provider training, nutrition education or family resource management," Martin continued. "We cover a whole great variety of fields."

Martin is married to Mena Police Chief Brandon Martin and together they have seven children. She graduated from Mena High School in 1991.

Martin graduated from Henderson State University with a bachelor's degree in Home Economics. She earned her master's degree in Agriculture and Extension Education from the University of Arkansas in 2005.

Martin worked in the Mena Extension Office shortly after she graduated from Henderson State in 1995 as a Water Quality Agent. Martin then worked in the Scott County Extension Office as a Family and Consumer Science Agent until 1999.

She returned to that same position in 2015 and continued in that role until the opening in Mena became available. Martin worked at Rich Mountain Community College and the Health Department during her hiatus from the extension office.

"Since I was already working in Scott County it just spilled over and made it easier to work in Polk County," Martin said. "I've lived in Polk County the entire time and my children are in school here. I have always stayed connected. I worked this county for a long time."

Martin said her time is divided 70 percent to Family and Consumer Science and 30 percent to 4H.

"We have some very successful programs," Martin said. "We've done a lot of things with Louise Durham Elementary School and we've had some good programs at the library increasing awareness in reading and nutrition education."

She added that they are going to be having more programs coming up including a Diabetes Awareness Event in September.

"The role that we play is informal in nature in that you're not necessarily in a classroom setting," Martin said. "Most of our programs are based with some hands-on training, so that we are able to teach people while they are actually learning it hands-on."

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Extension Office welcomes new employee onboard - The Mena Star