By: Sarah Noggle, Extension Educator, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, Paulding County; and Emma Horstman, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences
With the passage of the Paulding County OSU Extension levy in 2020 and funds being released in 2021, the Paulding County Extension Office had the opportunity to expand the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) program area. Our newest addition to Paulding County Extension, in the role of Family and Consumer Sciences, Extension Educator is Emma Horstman. The FCS Extension Educator will focus on information and resources in the areas of Healthy People, Healthy Finances, and Healthy Relationships.
Horstman is a 2023 graduate of Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Local to Paulding County, she brings her undergraduate experience in family relations and lifespan development. More recently, she interned with the Northwest Ohio Community Action Commission (NOCAC).
“At NOCAC, I had the opportunity to partner with the Financial Opportunity Center, Head Start, and the Partnership Assistance to the Homeless (PATH) Center. In these programs, I developed skills working with individuals from all stages of life and had the opportunity to make local connections to expand programming. My internship prepared me for a future of serving my community. I loved the diversity of these programs and look forward to searching for opportunities to partner on the educational side of Extension,” said Emma.
When the program was brought back in 2021 to Paulding County, it had been over 20 years since Paulding County Extension had an Extension Educator in the role of Family and Consumer Sciences. Horstman’s programming will focus on the mission of empowering Ohioans with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make healthy choices, thus creating healthy communities of healthy people with healthy finances and healthy relationships. The position, formerly held by Casey Bishop, was vacant due to Bishop taking a position closer to her family in Putnam County. Through in-person classes, virtual meetings, and Ohio State University Extension websites, blogs, and other media, Emma plans to utilize research-based materials and experts to connect Paulding County with education to enrich the community.
“It’s been a dream of mine to bring the OSU Extension Office back to full programming capacity since I joined late in 2013. After working at the state Extension Office while in college,
I knew our community would benefit by bringing the FCS program area back. With this position, our office is one step closer to covering all four program areas offered by OSU Extension. Horstman knows the community and it is great to have her on our team,” shared Noggle.
Ohio State University Extension brings the knowledge of the university directly to you. We fulfill the land-grant mission of The Ohio State University by interpreting knowledge and research developed by Extension and other faculty and staff at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), Ohio State main campus, and other land-grant universities – so Ohioans can use the scientifically based information to better their lives, businesses, and communities.
The Extension system is the world’s largest non-formal educational system. Extension’s
hallmark is programming delivered by professionals to address the needs of the local community while also addressing state, national, and global issues. Our practical educational programs combine the needs of local citizens and communities with new research and technical information.
No matter which county you visit, you can find people who are helped by the four major OSU Extension program areas: family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, community development, and agriculture and natural resources. These program areas – and many other special topics – are continuously being evaluated and updated to meet the changing needs and issues facing each community.
Extension provides practical advice, sensible solutions, and realistic down-to-earth answers for ALL Ohioans.
Horstman is welcomed by Erika Johanns (current SNAP-ED, Program Assistant) in the FCS program area. Johanns’ role will remain with programming in the SNAP-Ed area while Horstman will have the opportunity to expand education further than SNAP participants.
For additional information on the Family and Consumer Science program contact Emma Horstman at horstman.124@osu.edu. You may call her at (419) 399-8225 Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM. Individuals can make an appointment to meet Emma at the OSU Extension Office, 503 Fairground Drive, Paulding.
