Caledonia Argus

County will not replace agriculture extension educator

Posted: 12/23/03

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

Houston Countyís University of Minnesota Extension Office will not have an agriculture extension educator in 2004.

Budget cutting and a statewide restructuring of the extension program has caused the county to limit its extension service, said Houston County commissioners at their Tuesday, December 16 meeting.

Neil Broadwater, extension director for Houston, Fillmore and Winona counties, appeared before commissioners offered to install an agriculture technical assistant at one-third time for $14,000. The remaining costs of the position would be shared with Winona and Fillmore counties. The county has been without an agriculture educator since Bill Halfman resigned in May 2003. Based in Houston County, he served 13 other counties in the southeast district, and specialized in crops and soil.

In response to Broadwaterís proposal, commissioner Kevin Kelleher said he couldnít support it because he hasnít received any complaints since Halfman left in May. ìIíve talked to a lot of farmers about this. The day has changed with information (on the internet),î he said.

Broadwater said he has been handling agricultural calls since Halfman has left. ìI get questions every week. Farmers will not have any one-on-one time (without an agriculture assistant serving the county),î he said.

Instead, anyone interested in agriculture information can find information at the extensionís website using the public terminal in the office or their own personal computer, Broadwater said.

Also, regional educators will be available when conducting education workshops on subjects related to the countyís needs. For example, there may be training on livestock, horticulture, farm management, group facilitation training and many more programs. The place and date of an upcoming workshop will be posted on the extensionís website home page at www.extension.umn.edu.

The extension office in Caledonia will still have publications available that will help with some of the questions people may have.

Holly Kanengieter, 4-H extension educator, said state budget cuts have forced the extension to do less one-on-one counseling and more workshops and regional related activities.

Commissioner Dave Corcoran said it seems the county is paying more money for services, but is getting fewer hours for it. In July 2002 before Minnesota extension began its restructuring, the extension service had three educators who served just Houston County. Now, 18 months later, educators serve multiple counties and do less one-on-one counseling. The 4-H coordinator, Rebecca Price and Jean Meiners, support staff, are the only positions which will serve solely Houston County in 2004.

Kanengieter, who serves as 4-H regional extension educator for Houston, Fillmore and Winona counties, will move to an office in Rochester. She will still serve the three counties, but be based in Rochester.

Broadwater will be leaving the Houston County office in January to take a position as regional extension educator in Rochester.

Since the extension service began restructuring two years ago, 83 extension educator positions have been cut around the state.

The countyís extension budget decreased from $142,000 in 2003 to $108,000 in 2004.

County receives tobacco grant

The county received approval of a $250,000 tobacco prevention grant from the Minnesota Department of Health that it will share with 10 other counties.

Competition for the grant was a lot tougher this year because budget cutting at the state level reduced how much grant money was available, according to the Houston County Public Health Department. The county received the highest amount available,which is still less than half of what it received in 2002.

Seventy five percent of the grant will be used for making communities tobacco free and 25 percent will focus on educating youth about being tobacco free.

Employees receive recognition

Employee recognition awards were given to 14 employees who had reached the 10, 15, 20 25 and 30 year mark in their career with Houston County. They each received a pin, certificate and a check for $1 for each year worked.

Refreshments were available for all courthouse employees after the county board meeting.

Those receiving awards include:

ï10 year- David Corcoran, commissioner; Larry Graf, commissioner; Mary Jane Mullen, WIC clerk; Julie Renk, financial worker; Ann Thompson, commissioner; and Jodi Toedter, social worker.

ï15 year- David Bauer, maintenance specialist; Clarinda Rohweder, court services clerk; and Mark Schiltz, jail administrator.

ï20 year- Viola Horsman, financial worker.

ï25 year- Loretta Bartelson, deputy court administrator; Randy Shefelbine, deputy sheriff; and Douglas Twite, engineering assistant.

ï30-Mary Newgaard, financial worker.

Tobacco licenses tabled

Commissioners tabled making a decision on which establishments will receive tobacco licenses. Some have failed at least two tobacco compliance checks within the last three years, and the county is interested in determining the consequences for violations.

Those applying for renewals include; Money Creek Haven, Lawrence Lake Marina, Ferndale Country Club, High Plains Cenex and Houston Food Mart.

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