Kersting named new CSU extension director

Local rancher continues lifelong passion for agriculture

Bella Biondini Times Editor

Hannah Cranor Kersting has been selected as the Gunnison County CSU Extension Office’s new director, furthering her dedication to agriculture and youth education.

After leading the local extension office for more than 15 years, former director Eric McPhail moved on to oversee most of the offices across Colorado’s western region last September. After two failed searches, Kersting, with deep roots in the Gunnison Valley’s ranching community, emerged as a natural fit for the role. She also serves as the president of the Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association. Her first day in the office was April 17.

Kersting, who was born and raised in Gunnison, is a thirdgeneration cattle rancher. She left Gunnison briefly to attend the University of Wyoming where she majored in agricultural business. Since she moved back in 2016, Kersting has worked for Gunnison County and Gunnison Valley Health, but stayed employed full time on the ranch — spending most of her nights and weekends with her animals.

Although Kersting has always been passionate about agriculture education, she didn't think McPhail’s position would open at the right time.

“I wanted to be in ag and give back to the community,” she said. “This is my dream job … this is literally what I worked my whole life for and now it's here.”

After spending just over a decade as an active member of the local 4-H program, she said she knows how important it is to the community’s youth. But as she gets settled into her new role, there’s still a lot to learn. An extension office staff is the common source of knowledge on “anything and everything,” from small acreage ownership and gardening, to trees and water wells, she said.

A portion of her time will be dedicated to directly supporting Gunnison County’s thriving 4-H program, with a focus on livestock projects. The program has approximately 150 members this year and has continued to rebuild following the pandemic. She said she wants to help it keep expanding.

“It's so important that the next generation understands where their food comes from,” she said. “And then the cool thing about 4-H is it's not just animals, it doesn't stop there. It doesn't matter what your interests are, there's probably a program for it.”

Kersting will be working alongside Perri Pelletier, Gunnison County’s 4-H youth development agent. Pelletier said she’s thrilled to have Kersting in the office due to her familiarity with the community and extensive knowledge about livestock. She is also hopeful Kersting’s digital marketing experience will continue to help the 4-H program reach more local youth.

“We think she'll be a wonderful addition to our office team,” Pelletier said.

(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@gunnisontimes.com.)