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K‑State extension reports steady turnout for tax assistance, new staff and community gardens
Summary
K‑State Research & Extension staff reported volunteer tax assistance numbers, upcoming farm plot tours, school and community garden activity and a new community health agent returning to Dickinson County this summer.
Jill Martinson, the 4‑H youth development agent for the Chisholm Trail Extension District with K‑State Research & Extension, updated commissioners on local extension programs, volunteer tax assistance and staffing.
Martinson said the office’s volunteer income tax assistance program prepared roughly the same number of returns this year despite limited volunteer help and that about 20% of those served were new clients. She said the office is expanding Medicare Part D counseling and will run enrollment assistance in October through December.
The extension is hosting a test‑plot tour at the Kevin Harris Farm later this month, with an extension specialist attending to review crop varieties for producers. Martinson also reported two spring livestock shows — a beef show on April 5 with 37 head and 85 youth from 28 counties, and an upcoming “Wild Bill Showdown” small‑livestock show with entries from Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
On community gardening, Martinson said Abilene and Harrington gardens were started with grant funds, run now with a user fee (about $25 per plot), and operate in cooperation with local partners (the Abilene garden is on city property and the city waives sewer fees for that site). She said a new school garden began at Blue Ridge Elementary and that extension staff advise other communities that set up gardens independent of extension oversight.
Martinson announced a new community health and wellness agent, Amanda Lindahl, will start in August; Lindahl previously served as a SNAP‑Ed educator and helped start the Abilene community garden. Martinson invited commissioners to refer groups seeking grant help to the Community Foundation and offered extension assistance for grant advising.
Commissioners asked about funding and garden operations; Martinson said initial grants seeded the projects and that Extension can advise on future grant applications but is not the primary funder in all cases.
No formal county action was taken on the report; commissioners thanked staff for the update.
