WVU Extension Names Helmondollar New 4-H Agent for Harrison County
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on August 11, 2026
West Virginia University Extension is proud to announce WVU alum Matthew Helmondollar as the new 4-H Youth Development agent for Harrison County.
A West Virginia native, Helmondollar is eager to begin his new role and serve the people of Harrison County. Growing up in Grafton, West Virginia, Helmondollar developed a passion for youth development and community engagement through his involvement in 4-H.
“I have been around the work of Extension professionals my whole life,” Helmondollar said. “The opportunity to work with the youth of West Virginia and help improve their lives is what drew me to WVU Extension as a career.”
Helmondollar earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and extension education from the WVU Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in May 2026, having participated in 4-H and other Extension programming from a young age and throughout college.
Helmondollar is no stranger to WVU Extension, bringing several years of various Extension experience to the position. He served as a West Virginia 4-H Extension Camping Instructor for two summers and as a WVU Extension summer intern in Mercer County. He also contributed to the MINION Project, where he worked alongside Extension faculty to conduct a ripple effect mapping evaluation.
As Harrison County’s 4-H Youth Development agent, Helmondollar hopes to expand opportunities for young people through leadership development, outdoor education and hands-on learning experiences.
“I am excited to work with the youth in Harrison County,” Helmondollar said. “I want to help people develop leadership skills, build their confidence and strengthen their sense of community while making 4-H programs engaging, accessible and relevant to their needs.”
One of Helmondollar’s goals during his first year is to identify community needs and program opportunities while growing youth involvement in county and state-level events. He also hopes to strengthen the county’s teen leadership program and ensure young people have a voice in local programming efforts.
Being a third-generation 4-H'er and third-generation WVU Extension agent, Helmondollar sees his new role as an opportunity to give back to a program that helped shape him.
“This job is meaningful to me because I grew up in the West Virginia 4-H program,” Helmondollar said. “I want to give back to the program while making a difference in the lives of youth in Harrison County and across West Virginia.”
Brent Clark, director of 4-H Youth Development, is excited to welcome Helmondollar to the Harrison County team.
“We are thrilled that Matthew is joining our Extension family. His vast experience in youth development and Extension makes him a perfect addition to our team and to Harrison County,” Clark said. “We are looking forward to all the great work he will do with our youth, volunteers, families?and community members.”
If you want to learn more about WVU Extension, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow @WVUExtension on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
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