New Extension educators complete training

New Extension educators complete training Eight educators and a program assistant with the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service completed the final portion of a four-part training program in Brookings on March 5.  Each joined Extension within the last year. They include: • Amy Frerichs, Extension 4-H/youth development educator, Lawrence County. • Tana Clark, Extension 4-H/youth development educator, Pennington County. • Jon Kieckhefer, Extension agronomy educator, Brookings County. • Justine Kougl, Extension 4-H/youth development educator, Cheyenne River County. • Rebecca Poelstra, Extension 4-H program assistant, Meade County. • Anthony Shaheen, Extension community innovation and leadership educator, Clay County. • Larry Wagner, Extension agronomy educator, Union County. • Chris Zdorovtsov, Extension horticulture educator, Minnehaha County. • Jackie Lee Kessler, Extension 4-H/youth development educator, Edmunds County.  The South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service offers new educators intensive orientation and training throughout their first year on the job. In addition to one-on-one support and direction from their district Extension director, each new educator participates in four quarterly training sessions. This training provides information and resources to become effective educators as quickly as possible. "Additionally, we feel this training provides our newest educators the opportunity to develop professional relationships with other new colleagues across the state and meet experienced educators who provide part of the training," said Karen Pearson, associate director of the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service.