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Extension office outlines 4-H reorganization, lost federal program and club tax/EIN requirements
Summary
Cass County extension staff reported a federal cut ended their family nutrition program in August, described re-enrollment and rescreening activity for 4-H volunteers, and warned clubs must reapply for EINs and file IRS returns under new state rules.
An Extension Office representative told the commission that the family nutrition program ended in the county on Aug. 15 because of a federal funding cut; other counties received carryover funds through March, the presenter said.
The presenter described challenges with re-enrollment and new state rules requiring every 4-H club to file financial records with the state and to obtain individual EINs and file federal forms. Many clubs previously had EINs that lapsed because annual filings were not maintained; the presenter said the re-enrollment process and new tax requirements have been “messy” and time-consuming.
The office reported it has re-screened 45 of 50 volunteers for criminal-background checks and is waiting on a small number of financial forms from clubs that disbanded. A new 4-H agent started Aug. 19 and will soon go on maternity leave, the presenter said; extension leadership expects to fill a parent resource educator position by the first of the year.
Other programming updates included the restart of 4-H year activities on Oct. 1, leadership day camp and officer training for 28 youth, work on farm-stress mental-health outreach (the presenter noted six farmer suicides in North Dakota this year, not in Cass County), and a 10-week Aging Mastery Program aimed at helping older adults remain in their homes.
The presenter asked for assistance with tax compliance for local clubs and noted travel plans for the state fall conference in Bismarck. Commissioners asked whether Extension works with FFA; the presenter said Extension does not generally manage FFA or FCCLA but supports specific judging teams and coaches through Extension staff.
