Hannah Brouse, director of Washington State University Extension for Skamania County, updated the Board of Commissioners on extension programs and a statewide plan to pilot regionalized leadership.

Brouse told the board the ForeSee Success program could not be executed this year because a contract agreement was not finalized in time. “We were not able to get a contract in agreement … we just don't know what the future will hold,” she said, adding staff and local partners had explored options and valued elected officials’ efforts to assist.

The extension director reviewed current youth programming: 4‑H is finalizing fair exhibitor guides and a new record book; an education day called “Super Saturday” is scheduled for June 21 and will include a class called Youth for Quality Care of Animals and a resource fair. She also described a regional “acidified foods” course running the day of the meeting for people making jams, jellies and pickles, and noted local partners helped publicize the class.

Brouse reported that WSU administration has asked counties for feedback on a proposed regionalization pilot that would shift administrative responsibility from locally appointed county directors to regional administrators. Details were limited. She said the model under discussion would convert the county director’s administrative duties to an appointed regional administrator while faculty would remain faculty; she did not have firm answers about territory size or how programming responsibilities would be assigned.

Commissioners and staff expressed caution. One commissioner said, “Personally, I would like to stay single county,” and others said they would only consider regional pilots if they clearly increased local presence or capacity. Brouse said county directors have limited information to share now but would collect the board’s feedback and submit it to WSU leadership.

Brouse also summarized outreach and partnerships: Summer (extension staff) has supported the fair board, a Green Team at Carson Elementary, and other youth and community activities; the Matt Adams Institute and a local campground were discussed as possible partners for future programming.

No formal board action was recorded on the regionalization question; Brouse asked the board to provide written feedback or a phone call that she could include in the response to WSU administration.