Shawnee County Extension staff presented program results and outreach plans to the Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 9, reporting growth in 4‑H enrollment, steady community interest in Master Gardener events and expanded education programs in schools and summer sites.

The extension’s presentations combined remarks from extension director Candice Styles, horticulture agent Lane Wiens, 4‑H agent Grace Wiens and youth leaders. “Without your funding, the fair would not be possible,” said Austin Weber, identified as the Shawnee County 4‑H King, thanking the commission for financial support of the county fair and 4‑H prizes.

The extension said 4‑H enrollment rose to 247 youth in 2024–25, a 12% increase from 220 the year before, and that 178 enrolled 4‑H members exhibited at the county fair. The office reported 1,699 entries submitted to the fair—about 300 more than in 2024—and described the county fair as a principal moment for member recognition.

Horticulture programming highlighted Master Gardener activity: Lane Wiens, horticulture extension agent, said the annual plant sale drew 762 community members, with more than 300 lining up before doors opened. Master Gardener volunteers answered 396 horticulture questions during the season; Wiens said about 34 volunteers filled response-line shifts. The office maintains eight demonstration gardens and held ribbon-cuttings this year for a native plant garden at Washburn University and a demonstration vegetable garden at the CRC Care Center at Stout.

Grace Wiens, the county 4‑H extension agent, described summer and school programs the office runs or partners on. An 11‑week county-funded intern delivered 51 programs at five sites, reaching 1,207 contacts among kindergarten–sixth grade students, the extension said; the Topeka Way to Work internship placed 30 students with local businesses and included recurring career-readiness lessons. The extension’s school enrichment programs reached 1,574 students across 29 schools in 2024–25; staff reported 24 new classrooms received scholarships last year and 13 new classrooms were already signed up for the current cycle.

Extension director Candice Styles provided quarter totals and partner outcomes. For the reported quarters the office recorded 3,040 direct educational contacts in one quarter and 2,175 in another (these counts exclude walk-ins and phone calls). The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) reported outcome survey results including 73% of participants eating more vegetables and 60% drinking less soda.

Staff described planned changes to increase participation—for example, moving the sick-plant clinic from a Monday morning at Fairlawn Plaza Mall to a Thursday evening at a library location and inviting local gardening groups to participate. Wiens said programming will emphasize tree- and insect-related topics in response to question trends. The office is recruiting and training new Master Gardeners (17 in training as of the report) and plans to expand a quarterly horticulture newsletter.

Commissioners did not take any formal votes on extension programming at the meeting. The presentation concluded with thanks from commissioners and no formal motions or directions recorded.

The extension presentations and the statistics cited were presented by named staff and youth leaders; no new policy or budget change was proposed during this session.

The board moved on to the Parks and Recreation master plan presentation after the extension briefing.