The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has filled six new county agent positions across the state. They will serve as the agency’s primary connection to people in their local communities, providing hands-on education and science-based programs.

The grassroots structure of AgriLife Extension, with a presence in all 254 counties, ensures area residents can contact someone familiar with everyday solutions and emerging needs specific to their county. County offices are anchored to 12 district offices located throughout Texas, dedicated to problem-solving and addressing unique regional challenges.

AgriLife Extension county agents

Paige Bauer, agriculture and natural resources, Ward County

Bauer, of Llano, earned a bachelor’s in natural resource management from Angelo State University. She previously worked for AgriLife Extension as an intern in the Tom Green County office and with the sheep and goat specialist and district office manager at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in San Angelo. Bauer said she joined AgriLife Extension because of her passion for agriculture and natural resource management and a desire to serve agricultural communities. “Through my experiences with AgriLife Extension, I value the opportunity to connect research-based knowledge with real-world applications, support producers and landowners, and contribute to meaningful education and outreach efforts that make a positive impact,” she said.

Savannah Bushkuhl, agriculture and natural resources agent, Hays County

Bushkuhl, of Spring Branch, earned her bachelor’s in agricultural services and development from Tarleton State University. She spent the last three and a half years as an agricultural and natural resource agent for Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension. She earned her master’s degree in agricultural development from Texas A&M University. Bushkuhl said she looks forward to serving the residents of Hays County. “I joined AgriLife Extension to help farmers, ranchers and communities turn research into practical solutions,” she said. “I’m passionate about empowering people to make informed decisions that strengthen their land and resources.”

Kyle Despain, agriculture and natural resources agent, Washington County

Despain, of Laramie, Wyoming, earned an associate’s in animal science from Casper College, and a bachelor’s and master’s in animal science from Texas A&M. He spent the last year as the livestock judging coach and coordinator at Texas A&M and also completed an internship with AgriLife Extension. Despain grew up exhibiting livestock at the county, state and national level. He was involved in livestock judging at every level. He said he is passionate about the livestock industry and looks forward to working with families in his county role. “AgriLife Extension has a very broad net that covers so much of our industry,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working at the county level, where production agriculture starts.”

Torri McClellen, 4-H youth development, Victoria County

McClellen, of Odem, earned her bachelor’s in agribusiness with a minor in business administration from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She has collected numerous hours in work experience interning with AgriLife Extension in Nueces County, the Texas FFA Foundation and with the Buccaneer Commission. McClellen grew up in San Patricio County where she was active in showing livestock and agriculture youth leadership organizations. She said she is excited to move to Victoria County to work with the youth to develop their leadership and community involvement. “I did not have the fortune of growing up in the 4-H program, but I have seen the impact and opportunities that are open to members of 4-H. I look forward to bringing those opportunities to the youth of Victoria County,” she said.

Lauren Meiwes, family and community health, Hansford County

Meiwes, of Del Rio, earned her bachelor’s in animal science at West Texas A&M University. She spent three years working as an embryologist before starting as an elementary school teacher in Perryton and then a family and community science teacher at Spearman. Growing up, Meiwes was active in Val Verde County 4-H, including shooting sports, food and nutrition, wool and mohair judging, livestock judging and showing pigs, lambs, angora goats, horses, meat goats and dogs. She was also involved in the 4-H Council through the junior and senior divisions and is excited to share her well-rounded passion with the youth and community members of Hansford County. “I joined AgriLife Extension because I have a passion for teaching, a passion for agriculture and a passion for helping,” she said.

Eleni Patitsas, agriculture and natural resources agent, Comal County

Patitsas, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, earned her bachelor’s in horticulture at Texas A&M and master’s in theological studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. She studied abroad with Semester at Sea and has a permaculture design certificate in international development. She previously served as the agricultural programs manager for a non-profit and has worked with farm and homestead management and consulting. Patitsas assisted with research on vineyards in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences viticulture and enology program. “I hope to equip people, build community resiliency, bring food growing skillsets and conservation agriculture, and foster environmental stewardship in Comal County and beyond,” she said.

ARDMORE, Okla. (KXII) – A Texas man has died after a fire at the Ardmore Valero refinery Monday evening.

Beaumont television station KBMT reported that Jesse Cole Biscamp, of Kirbyville, Texas, passed away after he was severely burned. A GoFundMe set up for Biscamp’s family stated he was flown to a burn unit at a Plano hospital.

Biscamp was a volunteer youth football coach, and the GoFundMe described him as a beloved husband and father.

He was one of five people that were hospitalized after the fire broke out.

Valero has not released any more information about the fire or the other people injured.

Copyright 2026 KXII. All rights reserved.

EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14/CBS4) — A state-approved curriculum created by the Texas Education Agency two years ago is facing thousands of corrections, prompting questions about what went wrong and what it means for schools already using the materials.

The Texas State Board of Education said the Bluebonnet curriculum needs more than 4,200 corrections.

The TEA said the figure reflects how changes are counted across multiple materials, not necessarily 4,200 separate mistakes.

“I think it’s helpful to know that when we report to the board any changes that we’re making to the materials. Anytime it changes made it that’s done across multiple components like a teacher guide and a student book and a workbook that has to be reported multiple times. So the first thing to know is the actual number of unique changes is about half of that number that’s out there,” said Nicholas Keith, the TEA’s associate commissioner of curriculum and instruction.

El Paso ISD clarifies stance on Bible teachings in schools, residents debate curriculum

During the State Board of Education’s last board meeting, it was revealed the curriculum’s issues ranged from spelling and grammar errors to wrong answers in teachers’ answer keys.

Districts using the curriculum receive $60 per student, along with funds to hire a specialist to help implement the lessons.

Tornillo ISD is among the districts using Bluebonnet, and its Bluebonnet specialist, Karina Schulte, said the district has not seen issues since implementing the curriculum last September.

“It comes out as, oh my God, it’s, it’s 4200 errors. But it’s, it really wasn’t like I read in the Tribune, it was not a waste of time for educators that did the curriculum that spent unending hours working on it. It’s a very high quality curriculum. That’s why it’s, approved by the state as a high quality instructional material,” Schulte said.

Schulte said the community will play a role in what comes next as corrections move forward.

“They gave us a chance to to really, dig deep into this isn’t a curriculum about religion. It’s working with a curriculum that has to that has, you know, expectations and, and takes to cover so that students are ready for the next grade level,” she said.

The State Board of Education voted to delay approving the corrections until its next official meeting, set for April.

Until the board approves the changes, the current material will continue to be used.

Texas school district adopts Bluebonnet curriculum amid mixed reactions

Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily to your inbox.