Calling it a preemptive strike against potential state-forced consolidation, the Barton County Commission Monday morning gave its blessing to a proposed joint Kansas State University Extension District that would combine extension councils in Barton and Ellis counties. For some time, the Barton County/Kansas State University Extension Council has explored an option to join the Ellis County Extension Council to form a district. But first, the commissions in both counties had to approve both a resolution supporting the venture and the actual service agreement.