Caledonia Argus

Future of 4-H subject of public meeting here

Posted: 7/15/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

With the future of Houston County 4-H hanging in the balance because of cuts in state funding, a meeting was held July 9 in Caledonia to discuss program priorities in the coming year and the countyís role in maintaining 4-H.

Though details of the programís 2004 budget are still being worked out, one thing is certain: there will be many reductions. One of the biggest hits will stem from the state lifting financial obligations once imposed on counties, such as requiring counties to allocate funds to pay for regional extension educators.

Dale Blyth, director of the Center for 4-H Youth Development, stressed that without local support, ìthe 4-H program will have to be significantly reduced.î

While 4-H will continue to provide services, Blyth said in his prerecorded video address, ìit will be less than currently exists if counties donít invest,î and much of the 4-H programming is ìsimply not possibleî on state and federal dollars alone.

Houston County, as with all Minnesota counties, Blyth said, will undertake a two-step process to determine how big a presence 4-H will have in the county. The county must choose a staffing package to support the local program, and select from a menu of available 4-H programs.

Roughly 40 people attended the July 9 meeting, and they were given the opportunity to suggest which 4-H and Extension Service programs the county should keep, and what can be done to best support the 4-H program. Attendees were told that the input received would be presented to the county extension committee at its August 6 meeting. The committee will then look at a staffing and operating plan appropriate for Houston County, which will be presented to the Houston County Board of Commissioners later in August.

Three questions were posed, and each meeting-goer was allowed to indicate his or her top two selections to each question, as well as one vote to indicate which of the possible choices was ìnot a priority.î Questions and responses were as follows:

Question 1: Given the current financial situation, what types of youth development program opportunities are vital to the youth of Houston County?

The ìcounty fair/state fairî was the most popular pick (33 votes); maintaining a 4-H office in the county (18 votes) and ìlocal club and federation meetingsî (11 votes) were the next most popular. ìCommunication contest/demonstrationsî was the least favored choice, with 14 people indicating it was ìnot a priority.î

Question 2: What advice do you have for the task force members on how the county can best support the 4-H program?

ìKeep staffing the sameî was the top pick (33 votes), followed by ìleadershipî (20 votes), and ìinteraction between clubsî (10 votes). 20 people said ìmembership feesî were ìnot a priority,î and 13 people indicated likewise for 4-H after school programs.

Question 3: Other than the 4-H program, what other types of programs do you feel should be funded locally as part of a Houston County Extension Office?

The Agriculture Program (31 votes) was the top choice for a program, other than a 4-H program, that should be funded through Extension. Redirecting money to the 4-H program (25 votes) was the second top choice, and Natural Resources (9 votes) was the third top priority. 14 people listed the Homemakers Program as ìnot a priority,î and 16 people said Community Development was also ìnot a priority.î

It will now be up to the county board to determine what level of service it will be willing to fund for 4-H. Although the county pays for the position, the salary and associated costs will be set by the University of Minnesota.

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