Frontier Extension District has announced that Rebecca McFarland has been named as director  of the district. McFarland has been a member of the Frontier Extension District team since the district’s formation in 2010 and prior to that served as the family and consumer sciences agent for Franklin County from 1996 to 2010. McFarland has spent her entire professional career in the cooperative extension system and just completed her 26th year.

Since July 2014, McFarland has served in various leadership roles. She currently serves as a co-leader for the Stress and Resiliency Transdisciplinary Team formed in 2019. She helped lead efforts in addressing behavioral health issues and concerns identified for K-State Research and Extension professionals and Kansans related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also a member of the KSRE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Work Group.

“I am excited about the opportunity to serve as director of the Frontier Extension District,” McFarland said. “We have a dedicated staff, and board that is passionate about serving the people across our district. We will continue to work together to address critical issues facing our communities and be innovative and creative in our engagement and delivery.”

McFarland fills the vacancy left by the retirement of longtime Extension director Dr. Mary Frances “Fran” Richmond, who retired in October 2020. See related story: Richmond to retire after 45 years with Extension service