Extension and Piedmont Senior Resources outline 2024 activities; county funding and program growth noted

Representatives from the Buckingham County Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension and Piedmont Senior Resources presented 2024 program reports to the Board of Supervisors, detailing outreach, volunteer contributions and program growth and noting requests for county support tied to population changes.

Virginia Cooperative Extension: Ruth Wallace, Buckingham County 4-H agent and unit coordinator, summarized Extension programming and staffing. Wallace said the office currently has two full-time agents (herself and an agriculture and natural resources agent), an administrative and fiscal assistant funded by the state, and two part-time staff filling a 4-H program assistant role while the office continues recruitment. Wallace reported year-end figures including a fall average daily membership (ADM) for schools and described grant activity: the county’s extension work has brought $1,300,000 in grant funds directly to Buckingham and generated $12,000,000 in broader activity over time. She noted successful completion of a $400,000 grant-supported beef hub and said 4-H unduplicated enrollment in Buckingham totaled 1,384 youth across clubs, school enrichment, after-school programs and camps. Wallace told supervisors that volunteers contributed substantial hours and estimated a 2024 return on investment of $2.19 for every dollar invested in extension services.

Piedmont Senior Resources: Justine Young, CEO of Piedmont Senior Resources (PSR), and staff member Becky Carter presented regional and county-level senior-services statistics and noted ongoing funding needs. Young said PSR serves a seven-county region and that PSR recorded 3,435 clients regionwide last year, with 503 users in Buckingham. Carter reviewed program growth in Buckingham: 1,945 additional home-delivered meals were provided in the last year, with seven new congregate clients reported; homemaker and chore programs also showed increased hours and participation. PSR said its nonemergency medical transportation demand has grown (reported trips increased from 50 in 2023 to 63 last year and are booked into the following February), and that PSR has opened a new revenue-generating contract through a subsidiary business that performs health assessments for insurance companies to bolster sustainability of programs that lack other funding.

Funding and county request: PSR said it is asking counties for an increase in local contribution that is tied to the county’s senior population; the presenter described the requested amount as a roughly “$700-some” increase but did not provide an exact figure in the meeting materials. Both presenters encouraged supervisors to use printed faculty reports and annual reports for detailed program breakdowns.

Why it matters: Extension programming and senior services provide direct services to residents across education, agriculture, nutrition and aging supports. Supervisors generally thanked presenters and heard requests for continued county support to sustain expanding service lines.

Ending: Presenters left printed faculty and annual reports for supervisors and said they will provide additional detail on grant awards, program budgeting and staffing if the board requests it.