MSU Extension interim director: 1,100 Cass County participants in 2024, 656 youth in 4‑H; program wins national award

Kai Gritter, interim district director for MSU Extension, presented the 2024 annual report to the Cass County Board of Commissioners, saying roughly 1,100 Cass County residents participated in Extension programs last year and the county funds office support equivalent to about 1.5 full‑time employees.

Gritter said Cass County residents used about 242 statewide programs, 57 programs were conducted in the county, and 79 volunteers supported local programming — primarily through 4‑H. He said 656 youth were enrolled in Cass County 4‑H programs. Gritter acknowledged county funding for an office support position and a 4‑H program coordinator as central to sustaining local delivery.

Gritter introduced colleagues including Nora Lee, community nutrition instructor, and an Extension staff member identified as John who described the national award for the Extension’s demand series. John said the demand series focuses on business and financial decisionmaking for farmers and that the program won a national award at the agents’ conference. He outlined planned expansions: a self‑paced online introduction to grain marketing, expanded hands‑on and in‑person programming (a pilot in Van Buren County open to Cass County participants), and future materials on livestock, insurance and marketing to help producers with cost‑of‑production and revenue planning.

Gritter emphasized health and nutrition programming delivered locally (citing 630 youth and adults reached by Health & Nutrition Institute offerings) and noted that four Cass County zoning administrators completed a zoning administrator certificate program offered through Extension; Gritter named Commissioner Marchetti as one participant. He encouraged commissioners and residents to use the Extension’s free programs and distributed printed strategic‑direction materials.

Ending: Commissioners asked clarifying questions about volunteer counts and the interim director said the 79 volunteers figure is for Cass County; statewide volunteer totals are larger.