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Hardy County Extension reports rising 4-H participation, drought response and program growth; requests small salary adjustments
Summary
Hardy County Extension staff presented a year-in-review highlighting state and national competition results, a rise in 4-H membership to about 317, drought-response programming that linked local producers to more than $1 million in FSA payments, ongoing research projects and a budget request that included two modest salary increases.
Representatives of the Hardy County Extension Service presented a summary of last year’s activities and a budget change request to the commission, reporting growth in youth programming and several research and outreach projects.
Extension staff said 4-H membership rose to about 317 last year, a 20-year high locally, and highlighted competitive results: state horse-judging wins and national contest placings in poultry events. Staff also described outreach on drought response and noted that, after local education sessions, the Farm Service Agency had provided more than $1,000,000 to producers in Hardy County for drought-related relief efforts.
The extension report described research projects on copper nutrition, dung beetles and bale-grazing, and work to develop financial-literacy materials aligned with a new West Virginia high-school requirement. Staff also described efforts to grow volunteer leadership and to expand STEM literacy programs for young children.
Budget request and personnel
Extension staff asked the commission to approve two modest salary adjustments for office staff: a $2,000 increase and a $3,000 increase intended to align local extension staff pay with systemwide years-of-service benchmarks and to retain support staff. The request was presented as part of the extension’s regular budget-change packet and will be reviewed as the county moves to its formal budget hearings in March.
Why it matters
The extension’s work spans youth development, agricultural research and producer assistance; higher 4-H enrollment and state/national competition placements underscore demand for in-person programming and volunteer support. The staff asked the commission to consider the salary adjustments as part of maintaining program capacity.
