Go-to extension sec Sherri Best deserves a pat

Every organization — if it is lucky — has at least one go-to person, the individual who knows where the missing keys are likely to be found, who to call when crisis strikes, where the have-to-have-it notebook is.

For the past eight years, in the Roosevelt County Extension office, that person has been Sherri Best.

As you read this, Sherri should be about halfway through her last Roosevelt County Fair as administrative secretary for the local extension office.

I was one of dozens of individuals who spent Monday at the fairgrounds working with her in the chaotic entry day marathon.

There was a daylong chorus that went something like this: “Where’s Sherri?” “That’s a Sherri question.” “Sherri will know.” “Go ask Sherri.” “Has anyone seen Sherri?” “Sherri has it.”

Although I can’t confirm that Sherri might not have gotten a trifle testy late on Monday night when there were 19 … yes, 19 … people crowded into the tiny fair office, I can attest to the fact that this woman has a bottomless supply of cheer and she spreads it generously to others.

She also has an infinite supply of “Heidi hugs,” given freely and often in honor of the 22-year-old daughter she and her husband Kent lost to a car accident in 2007.

It’s easy to be oblivious to the mountain of details behind the scenes at an event like a county fair. There are reams of forms to be shuffled, hundreds of checks to be written, judging sheets to be organized, volunteers to be collared, and continual fires to stamp out.

Sherri is not the only one who does this, but she — like many great extension secretaries before her — carries a lion’s share of responsibility for the day-to-day details.

Sherri promises she’ll still be involved in future fairs, but she’s officially logging out at the end of this month to pursue other interests like devoting more time to the home-based business she shares with her husband, refurbishing old furniture and household goods.

Sherri is scheduled to spend her last afternoon on the job at a public retirement reception in the McAlister Room at the Jake Lopez Building from 2-4 p.m. next Thursday.

As you visit the Roosevelt County Fair this week (and you should), keep an eye out for our red-headed extension secretary and give her a pat on the back. Maybe two. Better yet, a Heidi hug. She’s earned it.

Betty Williamson hopes Sherri gets lots of Heidi hugs this week. You may reach Williamson at: [email protected]