Leaders across Ector County are involved in strategic planning to expand agricultural offerings over the next decade.
The Ector County Program Area Committee has identified multiple projects that could support educational programs and economic development in Odessa. The committee consists of about 20 members who are tasked with assisting the local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to address needs of the area.
Short-term goals for 2020 include adding amenities like 208 horse stall barns to the Ector County Coliseum as well as increasing the functionality of the facility’s outback arena to draw events back to Ector County.
Odessa College Agricultural Program Director Dr. Mike Lemons is a committee member and said the county dropped the ball by allowing the Ector County Coliseum to become obsolete.
“We used to have the top facility in West Texas and then while we sat back enjoying it, we watched other cities beat us out,” Lemons said, “and now we’re about 20 years behind.”
The committee is simultaneously planning for the next 10 years while addressing some of the current issues.
Ector County Precinct 3 Commissioner Dale Childers has emphasized future-proofing going forward so that infrastructure and programs will only need minor tweaks rather than complete overhauls.
“The reason I want at least a two to three-year plan, even a 10-year plan, is because I don’t want to do something between now and February that messes us up down the road and will end up costing us more money,” Childers said.
Two subcommittees were established Wednesday, one for long-term planning efforts and another to explore options for the 4-H youth development program.
ECPAC has started a conversation around the idea of constructing a permanent 4-H facility, which many members believe can be accomplished through land donation and fundraising. The committee estimates up to 10 acres would be needed for a 4-H facility capable of accommodating a variety of projects and activities such as archery, shooting sports and barn stalls where members can store livestock.
County Extension Agent Steve Paz said he is interested in touring other 4-H facilities to see what is possible, what could benefit this community and “help young kids get started in agriculture.”
Paz said youth living within the city limits could have the most to gain since they cannot keep livestock unless they are in the county due to city ordinances.
Childers said a lack of county extension agents was a roadblock to bringing more opportunities like a 4-H facility to Ector County, but with recent vacancies filled the topic can now be seriously discussed.
An interlocal agreement between Ector County and Midland County approved this year allowed the two entities to combine extension agent responsibilities to aid with staff retention and program consistency.
The committee suggested that the proposed 4-H facility could be shared between Odessa and Midland.
The subcommittee created to gather information and connect with potential stakeholders will determine the scope of the project and the amount of funding needed to bring the idea to fruition. Childers has taken a leadership role on this project and said he wants it to be one of his last contributions before his term ends December 2020.
“It’s been in the back of my mind for years and years, but our agents were just barely treading water,” he said. “It’s fixing to get a lot better so I would like to give these kids a facility that they deserve.”
