Our county's Extension Family and Consumer Sciences program is committed to providing information to help families deal with the complex issues of today.

Our programs focus on:

• Personal and Family Finance
• Early Childhood and Family Development
• Food and Nutrition
• 4-H Youth and Volunteer Development

We teach through:

• Local programs
• Community projects
• Group training sessions

Learn more about Extension programs and resources:

• Extension Family & Consumer Sciences
• Extension Health & Family Well-Being
• Cooperative Extension Service

Extension Clubs

The roots of Extension Clubs, like those of 4-H, lie in the early days of the Cooperative Extension Service beginning in 1914 with the Smith-Lever Act. The needs of the members today are quite different from those that inspired the programs in clubs in the early 1900s, but education in a social setting is still an effective way to teach and learn. Subject matter now may look different but the same desire to have lessons based on reliable, research-based information and meaningful relationships with others in the community still rests at the heart of Extension Clubs.

Want to learn more about how Chaves County Extension Clubs started and what we do? Please watch our video below.

Chaves County has four Extension Clubs:

1. Valley Amigas: Meets the 3rd Tuesday of the Month at 7 PM
2. Misslamo: Meets 4th Tuesday of the Month at 11:30 AM
3. Zia: Meets the 3rd Thursday of the Month at 6:30 PM
4. Quilt Squad: Meets the 3rd Saturday of the Month at 10 AM

For more information on joining a club, please contact us today.

Strong Bones Program

Strong Bones program continues in Chaves County. Strong Bones is an evidence based program from Tufts University. This research based strength training program for women/men 50 years or older is to help prevent osteoporosis by doing weight bearing exercises. Through this program, the participants increased their strength, muscle mass, and bone density and also gain improvements in balance, flexibility, sleep and mood.

Classes are conducted at three different locations around town, including:

• Grace Community Church: Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 AM
• Bethel Baptist Church: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 AM
• Senior Circle: Fridays at 10 AM

Dress comfortably, wear closed toed shoes, and call extension office for more information.

National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP)

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) led National Diabetes Prevention Program is an evidence based lifestyle change program for preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes. It is based on the Diabetes Prevention Program research study led by the National Institutes of Health and supported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The lifestyle program in this study showed that making modest behavior changes, such as improving food choices and increasing physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week, helped participants lose five to seven percent of their body weight. These lifestyle changes reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% in people at high risk for diabetes.

This is a year long program and a great support group.

2025 classes starting in January!

Flyer for 2025

Call Chaves County Extension Office 575.622.3210 to sign up for classes.

Kitchen Creations Diabetic Cooking School

Diabetes is rampant in the state of new Mexico with an estimated 197,000 people diagnosed with this disease (New Mexico Department Health).

Kitchen Creations Diabetic Cooking School is funded by the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service and the Department of Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program is offered on a yearly basis. For more information, visit the Kitchen Creations website.

Key concepts about diabetes are taught within the classes. Participants learn about glucose levels, carbohydrates, labels, 50/50 plate, meal planning, serving sizes and portion control.

Diabetic Cooking School are held twice a year, call the office to sign up for future classes.

Next class: March 2025

Flyer for March

Crafting for Your Mental Health

Crafting has shown to improve mental agility, improve both gross and fine motor movements, and also decrease cognitive decline. Crafting additionally has been shown to be a natural anti-depressant. Four reasons to join us for Crafting for Your Mental Health.

1. Engaging in arts boosts Mental Wellbeing
2. Crafting has long been used to help with anxiety
3. It brings people together
4. There are positive links between crafting and the cognitive skills of stroke and dementia patients

Join us for our next class!

• Hagerman Joy Center: 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 12:30 PM
• Roswell Senior Circle: 3rd Thursday of the Month at 2:00 PM