County proclaims October Manufacturing Month, Cybersecurity Awareness Month and 4‑H Week; McLeod 4‑H presents program report

McLeod County Chair Joe Nagel read proclamations declaring October 2025 as Manufacturing Month, Cybersecurity Awareness Month and McLeod County 4‑H Week, and the board heard a presentation from University of Minnesota Extension 4‑H staff and members.

The manufacturing proclamation cited state‑level 2024 figures presented in the packet — manufacturing contributed $58.8 billion to Minnesota’s economy and manufacturing exports added $24.6 billion — and local manufacturing employment figures: 4,375 manufacturing jobs in McLeod County, representing nearly 28% of total employment locally, with an average annual wage for manufacturing reported as more than $78,000 in 2024 (figures given by the chair during the proclamation).

The cybersecurity proclamation referenced the federal designation of October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month and urged residents and organizations to practice basic cyber hygiene measures listed in the proclamation (monitor accounts, keep software updated, enable multifactor authentication).

University of Minnesota Extension educator Miranda Kepner and several McLeod County 4‑H members presented program highlights: roughly 300 youth enrolled in county 4‑H, nine community clubs, 109 screened adult volunteers, 314 youth reached through school programming agreements, and 207 youth participating in the McLeod County Fair in 2025. Extension staff reported outreach events, project activities, and state fair showcases. Chair Nagel read a proclamation recognizing National 4‑H Week and invited the audience to the county’s upcoming 4‑H events.

Commissioners praised the 4‑H program’s retention and volunteer contributions; staff noted an invitation to the county’s annual awards celebration and upcoming leadership training events.