Mark Heitstuman, Extension Director

Mark Heitstuman has been the Extension Educator for Asotin County since November, 2000.

A graduate of WSU, Mark has a B.S. in Agricultural Education and an M.S. in Vocational Technical Education. Beginning in 2002 he began receiving State and National Awards for his work in Extension. He received a Communication Award and an Achievement Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents and an Achievement Award from the Washington Extension Agents and Specialists Association.

Mark provides educational programming and leadership to the following programs: 4-H and Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community Horticulture, Economic and Community Development.

Married with one son, Mark enjoys spending quality time with his family, raising and showing registered Suffolk Sheep and judging youth livestock shows.

Nicole Wright, 4-H Program Coordinator

Nicole has been the 4-H Program Coordinator since December 2005. Nicole lived in Genesee, ID where she raised Wagyu cattle for 13 years for the family business, New Era Genetics. She graduated in 2001 from Genesee High School were she was a FFA officer for 6 years. She continued education at Lewis – Clark State college in Business Administration.

As the 4-H Program Coordinator, Nicole is busy enrolling and tracking all the 4-H members and leaders in Asotin County, educating students in the local schools, providing 4-H individuals with information concerning the program, submitting financial and statistical reports to Washington State and coordinating 4-H events.

She also is the mother of an adorable 2 year old daughter. Nicole is full of energy and enjoys raising her daughter and with her free time likes to go hiking, boating, and enjoying the outdoors.

Peggy Browning, Extension Office Manager

Peggy has been the Extension Office manager since October 2006. She moved from the small town of Latah, Washington where she worked as a Compliance Officer in Spokane. Some of Peggy’s past experiences include web design, starting and publishing The Competitor News (a regional rodeo newspaper), hosting team roping events in northern Idaho, raising roping cattle, and working for WSU.

Her duties include: Assisting the Extension Educator and 4-H Program Coordinator, Master Gardener administrative, customer service, web page publishing, purchasing, accounts payable, administering private applicator tests, mail services, publications and Extension newsletters.

Peggy has three children; Tricia Campbell and Kim Grubbs - Caldwell, Idaho and Ty Browning - Spangle, Washington.  She enjoys photography, watching her children compete in rodeo and just about anything outside.

Merman Beta, Office Mascot

Merman has been the Extension mascot since the summer of 2006. His ancestry is the Beta family. His only brother, George, recently passed away leaving him an orphan except for his Extension family.

Merman loves to swim and hang inside his castle. He sometimes will take a minute to stare at and blow bubbles to friends that stop to visit him.

You can reach Merman at 1-800-YEAFISH. Please leave a message at the bubble. Be sure to stop by and say 'Hi" to Merman. He enjoys the attention.