In The Photo — Janelle Duffey receives the Achievement Award from Erin Bain, Director of the Special Risk Division for American Income Life Insurance Company and NACAA President JJ Jones. AILIC is the award sponsor.
Janelle Duffey was recognized with the Achievement Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) during the association’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference held July 10th in Denver, Colorado.
The Achievement Award honors NACAA members with fewer than 10 years of service who have demonstrated excellence in Extension programming and educational outreach. Recipients are selected by their peers and represent the top one percent of NACAA membership nationwide.
Janelle Duffey has served as the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service County Agent in Parmer County since 2019, providing leadership in agriculture, 4-H youth development, and community and economic development programming. As a second-generation Extension professional, she is deeply committed to delivering impactful, research-based educational programs that address the needs of local producers, youth, and communities.
Duffey is highly engaged with the county’s dairy industry and 4-H program, working closely with producers and families to strengthen agricultural operations, develop future leaders, and enhance quality of life across Parmer County. Her dedication to service and program excellence has earned her a reputation as a trusted resource among clientele and a respected leader among her Extension colleagues.
Known for her collaborative approach and strong work ethic, Duffey is frequently sought out by fellow Extension professionals for her expertise, leadership, and commitment to advancing the Extension mission. Through her innovative programming and community partnerships, she continues to make a meaningful impact on agriculture and rural development in the Texas Panhandle.
In Parmer County: $40 per year
Out of Parmer County: $50 per year
eStar (emailed): $30 per year
Call 806-250-5200 for more information
Prairie Acres News — Dustee Gee is the Prairie Acres Resident of the Month for August. The Employee of the Month for August is Estefany Cecena. She works in the Nursing Department and has been with Prairie Acres since October 2025. Estefany celebrated her birthday on Tuesday, August 11th.
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Bingo at Legacy Pointe — The next Bingo night is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18th at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to join in on the laughs, fun prizes, and yummy snacks.
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Colombian Quake — A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people, injuring nearly 90, and collapsing 61 buildings across cities in the country’s coffee-growing heartland. Cameras caught buildings swaying and crumbling as the quake rolled through early in the morning. In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, rescue crews searched for about 15 people trapped under one of the 20 collapsed buildings, and at least six airports suspended flights due to structural damage. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster and rushed to the hardest-hit region, while the Trump administration said it stands ready to help with recovery. The Flyover
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Smoke From A Distant Fire — Smoke from Canada’s raging wildfires is drifting into the United States, putting millions of Americans under air quality alerts in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. Some areas are breathing air rated as unhealthy or very unhealthy, with alerts naming Denver, Spokane, Boise, Missoula, and Casper, and health officials urging caution for children and older adults. The worst is in British Columbia, where the Bald Range fire forced more than 20,000 people from their homes, destroyed houses, and grew so intense that it generated its own weather and lightning. Canada’s fire season has burned more than 9.6 million acres this year, and forecasters warn shifting winds could carry hazardous smoke to millions of Americans far from the flames. The Flyover
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The Big Fill — Canyon Lake has held full since late July, its first stretch at 100% capacity in nearly five years. Mid-July storms added roughly 157,000 acre-feet to the reservoir which is on the Guadalupe River in Comal County, located about 16 miles northwest of New Braunfels in the Texas Hill Country, roughly halfway between San Antonio and Austin. The lake was just 61% full on July 7 and its recovery has been dramatic compared with recent years. On July 2, 2025, it was just 46.3% full, holding 175,464 acre-feet of water during one of its lowest periods in recent memory. The Texas Flyover
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The Big Fill Part 2 — Lake Corpus Christi hit 91.7% full Tuesday, its fullest in nearly five years, after more than 41 billion gallons poured in from the swollen Nueces River. A year ago, the lake sat at 19.3%. The Texas Flyover
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Texas School Vaccine Rules Unchanged — Texas students need the same vaccines this school year, despite President Trump’s executive order on Monday trimming federal childhood vaccine recommendations. The order cuts universal recommendations from 18 diseases to 11 and calls for splitting the measles, mumps, and rubella shot into three separate doses. Trump said parents can still choose every shot, and that insurance will cover them. The Texas Department of State Health Services called it a guideline, not a mandate, and said nothing changes for the 2026-27 school year. Only the Legislature, which returns in January of next year, can change state requirements. Rebecca Hardy of Texans for Vaccine Choice praised the order but wants Texas to broaden exemption rights. Texas still requires hepatitis A and B shots, which the order no longer universally recommends. Last year’s measles outbreak killed two children and infected 762 people in Texas. The Texas Flyover
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