Staver first worked as a high school vocational agriculture teacher. In 1936 he joined Extension; first as an assistant agent in Larimer and Weld Counties, then as Extension Agent in Charge in Adams County. He said, “In 4-H, I was helping more kids than I ever could as a teacher.” He helped Weld County farmers and ranchers understand and utilize the Triple A conservation program and other programs during the war. His 4-H work in Weld and Adams Counties earned him the Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1938 and 1944, respectively. He served as a director and superintendent of the National Western 4-H Club Roundup. He assisted in organizing the Weld County Junior Fair, annual county 4-H day and annual achievement program.
In 1945, Staver was named State 4-H Club Leader. His leadership and support developed the State 4-H Leader’s Advisory Committee, the 4-H Senate, the popular Colorado State 4-H Conference, and the Colorado 4-H Youth Fund, which he created in 1952 to raise private funds for youth programs. He gave imaginative leadership to Colorado State Fair 4-H events, National 4-H Conference and 4-H Club Congress, and several National ECOP 4-H Sub-committees. He was a National 4-H Foundation trustee from 1962-1964. He has been the International Programs Leader of the CSU Extension Service, including the IFYE program. While State 4-H Leader, state 4-H participation increased from about 10,000 youth to over 28,000.
