On June 28, the Josephine County Commissioners made the news by defunding the county’s OSU Extension service program for the second in a row. 95% of the 4-H kids had left the program to join a new nonprofit organization, Youth & Ag, which has 4-H Clubs for farm critters. Yet the defunding left programs for Master Gardeners, Forest Management and youth shooting clubs in flux.
Now the commissioners and fairground manager are working with the affected groups to provide alternatives to programs formerly overseen by the OSU Extension service run out of Corvallis.
Yesterday evening, the Josephine County Commissioners heard from several community agricultural and educational groups during a town hall meeting at the Josephine County Fairgrounds.
Speakers from groups serving both children and adults addressed members of the Board of Josephine County Commissioners and the Josephine County Fair Board in the Fairgrounds’ Floral Building, while Tamra Martin, Josephine County Recreation director, served as emcee. More than 45 community members attended the town hall.
“This is an important issue to the Fairgrounds, as agriculture education is enriched in not only our traditions but also identified as a priority in our mission statement,” Martin said, adding that she also wants to express gratitude for the members who came forward to speak, acknowledging it can be a challenging thing to do.
Speakers from six organizations presented assessments of their groups’ participation numbers and needs, such as meeting spaces and additional funding. The interests represented ranged from gardening and animal husbandry to youth shooting sports and women’s strength training.
A seventh organization focused on robotics was not able to send a representative but asked Martin to present their needs to board members. That groups needs include a classroom for education and practice, as well as a showroom for participants’ final projects to be displayed.
The Board of Josephine County Commissioners will hold another town hall in the future to learn and listen to the needs of these groups.
Richard Emmons is the publisher and editor of the Oregon Eagle.