PHOTO BY DAVID LOWE Karen DeZarn, whose experience includes teaching, child welfare advocacy and Indiana Extension Service work, recently joined the Texas AgriLife Extension Service as family and consumer science agent for Lampasas County. Karen DeZarn has traded the snows of Indiana for the sunshine of the Texas Hill Country, but she has not left behind her commitment to teaching healthy ways of living.

The new family and consumer science agent for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Lampasas County, Mrs. DeZarn brings experience from a variety of fields to her new position.

A former teacher and culinary school instructor, Mrs. DeZarn also worked in a hospital nutrition program and an adult development center. She later took a child welfare job and managed a Court Appointed Special Advocates program in Indiana.

Before her move to Texas, Mrs. DeZarn worked for three different counties in the Indiana Extension Service. She also worked with state conferences and coordinated awards from Purdue University -- where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in family and consumer sciences -- to various state agencies. In addition, Mrs. DeZarn served as state adviser to the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association.

In her Lampasas County role, Mrs. DeZarn will work alongside Karen Longoria -- Better Living for Texans program assistant for Lampasas County -- to promote several exercise and nutrition initiatives. Better Living for Texans, offered to state residents based on income, features group and individual lessons about cooking, buying groceries on a budget and other skills necessary for good health.

“With today’s life, a lot of people really don’t know how to cook,” Mrs. DeZarn said.

Providing basic kitchen instruction, the new county agent said, can help families save money and improve their health by eating homecooked meals.

AgriLife Extension also presents a program during Boys and Girls Club summer camp, and offers recipes and food preparation programs at Lampasas Mission and St. Mary’s Catholic Church food pantry.

Along with promoting the Walk Across Texas exercise campaign, Mrs. DeZarn hopes to obtain certi- fication soon to teach diabetes management programs and Food Protection Management. The diabetes program consists of five classes and includes lessons in determining a person’s glucose levels and cooking for diabetics.

Food Protection Management training is required of all restaurants, as well as food vendors at public events.

As family and consumer science agent for Lampasas County, Mrs. DeZarn also works with the Extension Education Association, which offers free monthly education programs about a variety of topics. Extension Education Association members mostly are women, although men are invited to participate, Mrs. DeZarn said.

The county agent added that she is trying to recruit new members and leaders.

“I’m anxious to get to know people and be involved with the youth,” Mrs. DeZarn said.

In particular, the new Lampasas County resident said she hopes to serve on a Child Protective Services board or volunteer for other child welfare-related groups.

Mrs. DeZarn and her husband, Russell DeZarn, have been married 33 years. Mrs. DeZarn’s three sons live in Indiana, and a stepson and two grandchildren who live in San Antonio helped attract the DeZarns to Central Texas.

Mrs. DeZarn enjoys sewing, needle crafts and walking. After spending many years in cold, cloudy environs, she said she and her husband enjoy watching the Central Texas sunsets from their porch.

For family and consumer science information, phone the Lampasas office of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service at 556-8271, ext. 140.