News

County agent is a women of many hats

By Heather Milbrath

05/29/2012

Although Marietta Good has worked in the Bottineau County Extension Office for seven years, many are not aware of her role in our community. Good is the Nutrition Education Agent for Bottineau County. She has worked in this position since 2005, after she attained her education from North Dakota State University.

In this position, Good focuses on food and nutrition, as well as the importance of physical activity. Good works with students, Head Start children, and group home residences. She also does in-home visits to teach family members about nutrition, and how to shop and prepare food.

The reason many may not know who Good is, is because she must focus on very direct target audience.

“I wish I could go and teach to all the students, but I am limited to who I can educate.” Good said.

Good works with low-income families, which is why she has limits to who she can serve.
Good spends most of her time in the Bottineau County office, but also serves Rolette County.

Good says because the senior citizen and child population of towns like Westhope and Newburg are declining, there is less people for her to serve in Bottineau County.

In Rolette County, on the other hand, there is a much greater need for Nutrition Education Agents.

“Rolette County is very populated, and has more lower-income families than Bottineau County, so I also help out the agent there.”

Good does much of her work in the classroom, and is known for the hats and outfits she wears while presenting to students. Some of the characters she portrays are Molly Moo, Ms. Good Food, Little Red Hen, and the Queen of Breakfast.

“I love that I can be creative in my job.” Good said. “I make the hats for my presentations because it’s a good attention grabber, and it’s something the students recognize me by. I have even been introduced by adults as Ms. Good Vegetables or Molly Moo.”

The creativity Good uses in her position is what made her decide to become an extension agent. Prior to working as an agent, Good also worked with welfare clients in Rolette County, but wanted to do more than paperwork.

“I can pretty much teach what I want, and when I want, as long as I stay within the guidelines.” Good said. “I also do displays every month in the Court House on different nutrition topics.”

Good’s office is in the Bottineau County Courthouse in the Extension Department, and can be contacted at (701) 228-2253.