Each fall, the Barton County Extension Council holds an election to fill positions on our various program development committees. Mark Wednesday, Oct. 29  on your calendar and stop by the Barton County Extension Office at 1800 12th St. to cast your ballot. Election time is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Any Barton County resident who is at least 18 years of age may vote in this election.
Candidates for the 2015 Agriculture Program Development Committee include: Doug Dolochek, Ryan Fanshier and Arlan Scheuerman.  
 The Family and Consumer Science PDC candidates include: Annette Goering, Colleen Newman and Susan Young.
 The 4-H Program Development Committee candidates for the Council include: Andrea Birzer, Jill Boultinghouse, Mary Foley and Natalie Fullerton. One member will fill a one year term.
 Three candidates have agreed to serve on the Community Development Committee.
They include: Kevin Sundahl, Steve Tustin and Freddy Gunn.
 Those elected will join the twelve council members who are in the middle of their two year terms. From the group of 24 elected members, a nine-member executive board will be elected at our extension annual meeting on Dec. 2, 2014.
 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 what local people want to know about. 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 St., Great Bend, to cast your ballot and enjoy some refreshments on Wednesday, Oct. 29, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Elementary age students are invited to join us at the Extension Office from 3:30 to 5 p.m. to learn about Pumpkins. Call the extension office at 793-1910 to register for this fun activity.
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.