Hands-on workshops with activities like building robots, sewing projects, gardening, and woodworking introduced children ages 5–7 to STEM, creative problem-solving, and early social and emotional skills.

The program lays a strong foundation for future 4-H participation while connecting families to CSU Extension resources and supporting children’s lifelong learning.

Larimer County 4-H Livestock Workshops give youth hands-on agricultural education. Eight projects including beef, swine, sheep, goat, dairy cattle, poultry, rabbit, and equine, cover animal care, showmanship, biosecurity, and record-keeping.

Workshops are low-cost or free, supported by CSU Extension, volunteer leaders, and access programs like Lease a Dairy that remove financial barriers.

Every rescued animal deserves a little joy, and Larimer County 4-H members ages 8–18 are making that happen. By handcrafting enrichment toys for animals at NOCO Humane, for example, youth see firsthand the difference their work makes.

This project teaches kids to show up for their community, care for creatures who can't speak for themselves, and feel the quiet pride that comes from giving without expecting anything in return.

In 2025, the horticulture specialist and Larimer County Master Gardeners led 15 therapeutic horticulture classes for older adults in care facilities for 202 participants, featuring seasonal activities such as herb butter making, flower arranging, pressed flower art, and evergreen crafts.

Sessions engage multiple senses, supported dexterity and creativity, and encouraged connection among residents and volunteers. Mood tracking showed a clear impact: 95% of participants reported feeling happy after class, an increase from 65% at the beginning.

With roughly 10% of Larimer County residents facing challenges accessing enough food, the program expanded its mission in 2025 to strengthen connections between home gardeners and community food pantries.

More than 60 home gardeners participated this year, donating fresh produce from their gardens throughout the season. Together, they shared 11,387 pounds of fruits and vegetables through 16 donation sites across the county.

To support a growing community interest in backyard food production, a 2025 trial evaluated 18 “space-saving” winter squash varieties to help home gardeners succeed in limited garden spaces.

The trial compared plant size, yield, and flavor across five squash types, identifying compact varieties that produce strong harvests without sprawling vines. This research provides practical, locally tested recommendations that help residents grow more food at home while making the most of small garden spaces.

Hands-on food preservation classes teach participants safe techniques for canning, freezing, and storing fresh produce, building skills and confidence in extending the shelf life of homegrown and purchased foods.

Increasing knowledge of safe preservation methods helped reduce food waste, improved household food security, and supported healthier eating habits for families.

Master Food Safety Advisors are trained by Extension specialists to bring food safety expertise directly to the community, supporting classes, workshops, and training programs.

By sharing knowledge, demonstrating safe practices, and mentoring participants, these volunteers extend Extension’s reach, strengthen local food safety, and help build skills that protect both employees and customers.

In 2025, Larimer County Extension strengthened food safety across the community by helping eight local food establishments align with the 2022 FDA Food Code through targeted training and Food Protection Manager certification.

Employees gained critical food safety skills, increasing workplace confidence and expertise, while businesses met regulatory standards, strengthened daily operations, and promoted safety.

This free nature fair offered experiential learning activities and informational booths from 23 partner organizations that focused on how our connection to nature can benefit our physical, mental and community health

Roughly 350 participants explored the health and wellness benefits of spending time outside and received free licenses and equipment, reducing the barrier to outdoor activities.

A hands-on Garden to Kitchen class taught participants container gardening and simple, healthy cooking techniques, increasing knowledge, confidence, and skills for growing and preparing fresh food at home.

By providing practical, low-cost strategies, the class improved access to nutritious food, supported long-term community health, and encouraged lasting healthy habits for participants and their families.

The monthly Connection Café at the North Forty Food Pantry creates a welcoming space for residents to gather, enjoy refreshments, and learn about local health and community resources.

Developed in partnership with the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment and UCHealth’s Aspen Club, the café engaged 150 residents and 19 partner organizations, built relationships, supported social well-being, and became a trusted, consistent presence in the Red Feather Lakes community.

NoCo Fruit & Vegetable Farm Hop 2025 brought together 40 participants, including 7 Spanish-speaking community members, on a guided tour of three local farms: Well Fed Farmstead, Hazel Dell Mushrooms, and Hungenberg Produce.

Participants toured the farms, heard directly from farmers about their challenges and successes, and saw firsthand how food is grown in Northern Colorado. The hands-on experience, including picking our own carrots, helped participants connect with producers across Weld and Larimer counties while deepening their understanding of local agriculture and strengthening relationships between farmers and the community.

Larimer County Extension hosted a blind taste test at the Larimer County Farmers‘ Market to explore how sustainable farming practices influence food quality. More than 200 market visitors sampled pairs of foods without knowing which were locally produced using soil health practices and which were conventionally grown. Participants overwhelmingly preferred the local options. 83% chose the Colorado peach, 75% the local tomato, 76% the mushrooms, 74% the grass-fed steak, and 67% the milk.

The activity sparked conversations between producers and consumers and helped shoppers learn how soil health practices can improve flavor, nutrition, and long-term land stewardship.

In 2025, Larimer County Extension partnered with NREL and Agrisolar Consulting to host a demonstration event at Jack’s Solar Garden in Longmont, Colorado. Producers and agricultural stakeholders explored agrivoltaics, the practice of growing crops or grazing livestock beneath solar panels.

Participants toured the site and heard from experts about the technical, environmental, and economic opportunities of dual-use solar. The event highlighted how agrivoltaics can support food production, clean energy, and more efficient land use.