A 2003 Flathead High School graduate with a strong interest in youth development has taken the reins of the 4-H program in Flathead County.

Ben Frentsos began work in November as the Montana State University 4-H extension agent. He recently returned to the Flathead Valley after spending eight years in Romania, first as a Peace Corps worker for three years and then as a private school teacher.

What he quickly ascertained in his new position is that the 4-H program in Flathead County is thriving, just as it has for 100 years.

“There’s a lot of base knowledge, with the best support system I could’ve asked for,” he said.

Frentsos, 32, wasn’t involved with 4-H when he grew up here, so there’s been a bit of a learning curve to understand the full extent of this longstanding youth program that teaches life skills that foster positive self-image, decision-making, responsibility and concern for community.

“I follow their lead and provide support,” Frentsos said about the corps of dedicated 4-H volunteers. “It’s been a good beginning. People are open and very accepting. It’s a whole different aspect of life in Kalispell I didn’t interact with when I was young.”

There’s a need for young people to be involved in quality youth programming, he said. While agriculture remains a big part of the local 4-H program, Frentsos said he’ll be looking for ways to expand the interest in nontraditional areas. Robotics, for example, is a popular 4-H project these days.

“It’s driven by what the community is interested in, and I want to help support that,” he said. “The goal is to let the community know” what 4-H has to offer.

Frentsos, the son of Mike and Julie Cummins of Kalispell, said his new job is a great way “to get to know my hometown again.” His wife, Mariana, of Romania, and their 1-year-old daughter, Josie, also are getting acclimated to life in Montana.

Frentsos headed to Romania with the Peace Corps not long after graduating from Montana State University with a degree in political science. He taught English as a second language in rural schools in Romania.

He and Mariana, also a teacher, started a boarding house during his time in Romania.

As he looks to the coming year, youth leadership is an area Frentsos wants to have a hand in developing further in Flathead County. The 4-H Ambassadors leadership program is available to those 13 years and up. Ambassadors receive training and demonstrate their skills in leadership, citizenship and civic engagement through public presentations, life-skill development workshops and service learning projects.

Frentsos can be reached at 758-5553 or by email at Benjamin.frentsos@montana.edu.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.