As a child, Darrin Parmenter wasn’t a horticultural kid, but his career grew around the passion he developed for plants as a young adult.
“Growing up, I didn’t have a collection of plants in my room, but I got the bug in my early 20s and a big part of that was teaching,” said Parmenter, who went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Montana State University followed by a master’s degree in the subject from Cornell University.
“Teaching doesn’t always have to be in the classroom, and once I realized what Extension was all about – combining community education and research that people could apply in their daily lives – it was just the perfect fit for me,” recalled Parmenter.
After graduating with his master’s, he spent four years working as a vegetable specialist with University of Florida’s Palm Beach County Extension office before returning to the Colorado county where he grew up to serve as a La Plata County Extension horticulturalist and county director for nearly two decades.
Now, Parmenter is moving into a new role as CSU Extension’s Western Regional Director where he’ll be responsible for helping coordinate the efforts of dozens of Extension experts spanning diverse disciplines and spread across 16 counties.
“We are very much community first and local first.”
“Everybody needs new chapters in life,” said Parmenter, reflecting on the past 17 years he’s spent focused on the needs of La Plata County residents and agricultural producers.
“At La Plata County Extension, we are very much community first and local first,” Parmenter said.
“I’ve become really comfortable with that, so now it’s time for me to be uncomfortable and get to better know the needs of other communities so I can help our specialists continue to provide relevant resources,” he continued.
However, the role isn’t completely new to Parmenter, who previously helped serve as the Western Regional Director in an interim capacity.
“As I’ve gone through this process and gotten to know more folks on the Western Slope and on campus it has just continued to excite me,” continued Parmenter.
What connects Western ‘individualists’
Parmenter takes on his new role at a time when communities in the region are facing diverse challenges, from growing populations to increasing climate variability and drought. He sees these as opportunities for CSU Extension to play a pivotal role in fostering sustainable growth and community resilience.
“In general, across the Western Slope, we’ve very individualistic,” said Parmenter. “We like our space, but at the same time, we know when it’s time to show up for our neighbors. How Extension plays a role in that community is vital.”
“When I think about some of the challenges that unify us all, I think of soil and water and how we can be better stewards of our land,” continued Parmenter. “In those ways, and in so many others, Extension can bring together people who want to see their communities grow, show them how much they have contribute, and give them the skills and resources to make an impact.”
Across the region, Extension experts in rangeland management, drought mitigation, agricultural production, youth development, nutrition, and more, work day in and day out to create free and low-cost resources to do just that.
“It’s incredibly cool to hear what people do across our region, because the impact they have is so tangible,” Parmenter said.
“When I think about how we can best serve our people, we need to do everything we can to make sure that our employees’ careers are nurtured and we don’t overfill their plate,” he continued.
A dedication to service
“Darrin brings a deep understanding of Extension’s programs and a commitment to professional development, employee engagement, and our land-grant mission of service and access,” said Eric McPhail, field director for CSU Extension.
“He truly understands the value that service and education bring to our rural communities,” continued McPhail. “We’re excited and proud to have someone with his dedication to county relationships, a staff-supporting mindset, leadership skills, and Western Slope experience to serve the region.”
