Each fall, the Barton County Extension Council holds an election to fill positions on the four program development committees. Please mark Wednesday, Nov. 2, on your calendar and stop by the Barton County Extension Office at 1800 12th Street to cast your ballot. The ballot box is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Any Barton County resident who is 18 years of age and older may vote in this election.
Candidates for the 2017 Agriculture Program Development Committee include: Doug Dolechek from Hoisington and Rita Stoltz and Arlyn Scheuerman from Great Bend.
The Family and Consumer Science PDC candidates include: Annette Goering and Susan Young from Great Bend and Kathy Hoffman from Hoisington.
The 4-H Program Development Committee candidates for the Council include: Andrea Birzer and Olivia Casey from Ellinwood and Natalie Fullerton from Great Bend.
Three candidates are on the ballot to serve on the Community Development Committee.
They include: Kevin Sundahl, Steve Tustin and Kathie Rondeau all with a Great Bend address.
Those elected will join the 12 council members who are in the middle of their two year terms. From the group of 24 elected council members, a nine-member executive board will be elected at our Extension Annual meeting on Nov. 30. The Council members will serve from Jan. 1, 2017, until Dec.31, 2019.
This locally elected board helps determine the educational programs that we are involved in. The Board and the PDC’s (Program Development Committees) help make sure that the programs that we offer and the information that we provide are relevant to our local citizens. They help the Extension Agents stay on target and focused on local needs and issues.
So what is Extension and why at Kansas State University? Extension is a joint program of Barton County, K-State Research and Extension and USDA. Kansas State University is the nation’s first land-grant university, established in 1863 under the terms of the Morrill Act of 1862. While most universities engage in research and teaching, Kansas State University has a third mission – Extension. The technology and research that is developed at the land grant university is shared as practical, useful knowledge that families, youth, communities and agriculture across the nation can use in solving everyday problems. That knowledge is shared through the local Extension Office and there is an office in every county in the state of Kansas.
Please stop by the Extension Office at 1800 12th Street, Great Bend to cast your ballot and enjoy some refreshments on Wednesday, Nov. 2, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Berny Unruh is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in Barton County. She is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at 620-793-1910 or at bunruh@ksu.edu