Jim Wells County

AgriLife Extension Service Office

Through an expansive network of 250 county offices and more than 900 professional educators, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides practical, accessible solutions to everyday challenges. Connect with an AgriLife Extension representative in your area to explore the wide range of educational resources, programming and activities available to you.

Visit the County Office Website

Jim Wells County Staff

Teresa Lopez

  • County Extension Agent - 4-H and Youth Development
  • 4-H and Youth Development
Fax: (361) 668-2802

Rogelio Mercado

  • County Extension Agent
  • County Coordinator
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
Fax: (361) 668-2802

Brittney Buendel

  • Administrative Assistant/Office Manager
  • Support Staff
Fax: (361) 668-2802

Sylvia Gonzalez

  • Nutrition Education Associate
  • Better Living for Texans (BLT)
Fax: (361) 668-2802

Angelica Torres

  • Extension Agent - Health
  • Extension Agent
  • Family and Community Health
Fax: (361) 668-2802

Resources Available in Jim Wells County

AgriLife Extension offers key programs across the state that are organized and supported at the county level. Click the links below for more information about local programming or contact your county office.

4-H Announcements

Want to say Good Luck to our very own Wesleigh Pool in Grand Island, Nebraska, competing as part of the Texas Recurve Archery Team!!!

Let’s help in Congratulating our very own Kinleigh Carr!!! As she will represent District 12 and Jim Wells County on the Texas State 4-H Council!!!

As Validations approach, remember that if your child did not make their 6 meetings, they are NOT eligible to show this year.

Jim Wells County 4-H Awards Banquet Date has been set for August 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM in the Merchants Building. We will need help decorating on July 31st starting at 5:00 PM.

Spring Major Show Heifer Tags Deadline to Order is August 15th. $30.00/Tag

All 2026 Major Lamb & Goat Tags Deadline to Order is August 15th. $20.00/Tag

All postal league awards are in the office and can be picked up at any time. Every child has a certificate and pin, if your child placed in the top three of their events, they will also have a medal. if awards are not picked up they will be taken to the awards banquet in August.

Record book results are as follows:

Beef – Gabriella Mercado Intermediate 1st Place (Advancing to District), Ariella Mercado Senior 1st Place (Advancing to District)

Citizenship and Civic Education – Paige Fisher Junior 1st Place (Advancing to District), Scarlett Fisher Intermediate 1st Place (Advancing to District), June Martinez Intermediate 2nd Place

Food & Nutrition – Kinleigh Carr Senior 1st Place (Advancing to District)

Sheep – Rylee Quintanilla Intermediate 1st Place (Advancing to District)

Shooting Sports – Reagan Fisher Junior 1st Place (Advancing to District), Ethan Saenz Junior 2nd Place, Elena Saenz Intermediate 1st Place (Advancing to District), Zachry Travis Senior 1st Place (Advancing to District)

STEM – Eli Walker Senior 1st Place (Advancing to District)

Swine – Allison Villarreal Junior 1st Place (Advancing to District), James Villarreal Intermediate 1st Place (Advancing to District)

For those interested in the Dog Project, there will be a training session on Sunday July 6th at the Jim Wells County Fairgrounds.

South Texas Cattlemen’s Round Up – We will once again be hosting the South Texas Cattlemen’s Round Up on July 15th. If you plan to bring something, please let our office know so that we can try to minimize having several of the same items. We would like to have a variety.

Hunter Education Course

There will be a Hunter Education Classroom Course July 26, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Located at the Jim Wells County Fairgrounds Women’s Building. This course is designed for novice hunters or young hunters, ages 9 and above. The course covers the core competencies of firearm and hunting safety, hunting ethics and wildlife conservation. All materials are provided. The Hunter Education Classroom Course lasts a maximum of 6 hours of classroom instruction. This time does not include registration, breaks, test administration and certification card distribution. Courses are offered across the state year round and are taught by certified volunteer instructors. The fee for the certification is $15.00. Some instructors may apply additional charges for the class, such as range or facility fees. Pre-registration is required. Check with the instructor for directions and any special instructions prior to going to class. Please use the link below to Pre-Register.

https://tpwd.elementlms.com/course/hunter-education-classroom-course-11515/

 

Ag & Natural Resources Publications and Information

Here you can find publication information regarding livestock, crops, soil, and other natural resources.

  • Tomasick, Julie. (2025, February 4) Cattle imports from Mexico resume under new protocol.  Texas Farm Bureau.

  • Trostle, Dr. Calvin. (2025, April 21) Soil Testing Pointers you Probably Haven’t Heard (Second in a five-part series). Texas A&M University Soil & Crop Sciences

  • Trostle, Dr. Calvin. (2025, April 28) Soil Testing Pointers you Probably Haven’t Hear (third in a five-part series) Texas A&M University Soil & Crop Sciences

Healthy South Texas Announcements

June 30, 2025
Keep the whole family happy and healthy this summer with this easy recipe that everyone is sure to love! Check out the recipe on my Facebook page
June 26, 2025
From Pantry to Plate!
Thank you, CENTRO de PROVECHO, for inviting me to your Grand Opening. It was fun doing the food demonstration and getting to talk with the patrons. Thanks Kim De La Garza, Brooks County Agent, for helping me out today. You are much appreciated!

Our Walk Across Texas Program has ended! I want to thank everyone for participating.

Thank you, Coffee Crew- Angelica Torres (me), Brittney Buendel, Sylvia Gonzalez, Rogelio Mercado and Gabriela Paiz.
Thank you, Monique Torres and your team, The Lone Star Stroll Squad with the Coastal Bend Health Education Center Texas A&M Health
Thank you, Chief Rick Garcia & Premont Police Department, for your participation in the Walk Across Texas program. Y’all are awesome!! Ready for the next!

Ag and Natural Resources Announcements

7/2/2025

60 people participated in our New World Screwworm Seminar today in Jim Wells County. Beef cattle producers from Kleberg, Brooks, Duval, Nueces and Jim Wells Counties came out to learn more about this pest and receive information on how to best protect their livestock in case this pest moves into our area. Special thanks to our presenters and others who provided information throughout the morning. Be sure to watch Channel 3 News as they provided coverage of our event as well.

 

Events Calendar

Stay up to date on monthly 4-H Meetings, Competitions, Deadlines and Events. Explore the events calendar to stay current on what is happening throughout the year.

  • July Events

    • 7/2 Screwworm Workshop (9:00 AM)
    • 7/6 Dog Project Training Session
    • 7/6 State Games Shooting Sports Begins
    • 7/9 Record Book Interviews
    • 7/12 Roaster Rabbit Validation Deadline
      • Breeding Rabbit Validation Deadline
    • 7/15 Cattlemen’s Round Up
    • 7/26 Hunter’s Education Course
    • 7/27 Robotics Practice (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
    • 7/31 Set up for Awards Banquet
  • August Events

    • 8/1 Awards Banquet
    • 8/2 Breeding Goat Validation
      • Dairy Goat Validation
      • Horse Validation
      • Breeding Heifers, Commercial Heifers, Scramble Heifers Validation
    • 8/24 Robotics Practice

Jim Wells County

Contact Us

Address: 200 North Almond St., B110 Courthouse
Alice, TX 78332
Phone: (361) 668-5705
Fax: (361) 668-2802