Williamson: County home economists always an aid

Connie Moyers’ retirement last month after almost two decades as the Roosevelt County extension home economist got me reminiscing about some of the women who have filled that position over the years.

The Cooperative Extension Service out of what was then New Mexico A&M in Las Cruces first placed a home economist here in 1924. The earliest one in my family’s lore was Roosevelt County’s fourth home economist, the lovely Miss Katie Brem (at least that’s what she was called in our family), who held the post from July 1935 to August of 1938. It was her first job out of college, according to her daughter, Katherine Cruson, who lives in Aurora, Colorado.

Miss Katie became something of a legend by making the trek to my grandparents’ home in south Roosevelt County and — in one day — helping to can an entire cow.

Teaching proper canning techniques was a big part of Miss Katie’s job, according to her daughter. Katherine said her mother’s long-ago lessons in food preservation were vital for rural families who rarely had electricity, refrigeration, or iceboxes.

“She gave instruction on canning so people wouldn’t get sick,” Katherine said. Miss Katie was also an experienced seamstress and baker, additional skills she shared with homemakers all over the county.

“She had a strong affection for the rural families,” Katherine remembers. By early 1938, she also developed a strong affection for a young Portales doctor named Herman Lehman who became her husband that year, and who stayed on for the next 40 years delivering thousands of babies, including at least one columnist.

Roosevelt County’s 11th home economist was Sheryl Borden, who told me it was also her first job out of school.

“It helped to be young and ignorant,” she said, admitting that she didn’t realize until years later that many of the homemakers she worked with had far more experience than she did. “I never felt intimidated and they were all so nice to me.”

While Sheryl was relieved that she never had to can a cow, she said her four and half years as the Roosevelt County home economist and two years as the Curry County home economist were “perfect training” for the 40-plus years she has hosted her television show, “Creative Living.” Some of her favorite guests were the home economists who followed her: Ruth Ashley, who served from 1974-77, Joy Best, who held the job from 1977-1997, and Moyers, who made dozens of guest appearances on the show.

Our home economists have enriched countless lives during their 92 years in Roosevelt County, including mine. But I’m still glad I never had to can a cow.

Betty Williamson wants to learn to can … fruits and vegetables. You may reach her at:

[email protected]