Laurie Vici, regional director for Extension, and three extension specialists briefed the McLeod County Board of Commissioners on July 15 about ongoing Tri-County Extension programming and outreach.
Vici said the 2025 McLeod County Farm Family of the Year is Goat Shine (the Becker family), who were not able to attend. The board was told the Beckers will be recognized at the 4‑H Livestock Auction at the county fair and will attend Farmfest in Morgan, Minnesota.
Extension staff reported that McLeod County answered 109 technical assistance requests last year across phone, email, social media and site visits; the Tri‑County partnership recorded 426 technical-assistance contacts. Horticulture, crops, home gardening, weed identification and livestock care were among the top topics. Emily Lindenfelter said tree questions — notably emerald ash borer, oak wilt, fungal diseases and pruning — were frequent.
Specialists outlined current and recent programs: gardening webinars and the revived Winter Garden College, Junior Master Gardener camp, Master Gardener volunteers (28 active members and three interns recording about 2,100 volunteer hours in 2024, which staff estimated as about $76,000 in value), poultry education developed for the city of Hutchinson’s backyard-chicken policy, crop seminars and pest‑trapping research (cutworm and upcoming corn rootworm traps), and soil-health and tillage workshops.
Commissioners thanked staff and emphasized that Extension services benefit both rural and city residents. No board action was required; staff provided contact and outreach information for residents wanting program updates and recordings.