Interim county 4-H director selected

Mary Tuck has been named interim director of the Flathead County 4-H program as a search begins to replace Karole Sommerfield, who resigned at the end of June.

Tuck will fill the position during July and August, focusing much of her attention on the Northwest Montana Fair. Tuck, one of the owners of the Kalispell Kreamery and Hedstrom Dairy, was a Flathead County 4-Her.

“Mary is knowledgeable about 4-H, the fair and the area,” Montana State University Extension Agent Pat McGlynn said. “She is doing us a great favor by helping out in the office, at the fair and the summer 4-H camp at Loon Lake. The summer is an extremely busy time for 4-H.”

Tuck’s position is part time. She’s at the office from noon to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Steve Siegelin, regional director with the MSU extension program, told Flathead County commissioners that the process to replace Sommerfield will begin soon.

MSU personnel will do the initial screening and when the candidate field is narrowed, people in Flathead County, including 4-H representatives and county commissioners, will participate in the interview process, Siegelin said.

In the meantime, he told commissioners that MSU extension agents from throughout Montana are available to assist in Flathead County as needed.