Fiscal court committee conditionally approves several Young & New Farmer grants and sets rules for minor applicants

The Budget & Finance Committee recommended conditional approval for three Young & New Farmer grant applications (listed in the committee spreadsheet as numbers 16, 22 and 26) and voted unanimously on the recommendation.

The committee addressed applicants under age 18 and voted to recommend that the full fiscal court allow a parent or guardian to sign a grant agreement for an eligible minor so the minor may be conditionally approved. The committee clarified that payments would be made to the named farmer as registered to do business with the county, and that parental or guardian signature would be accepted to permit contract execution for applicants under 18.

The committee also considered two late applications (numbers 33 and 34) that were received after the program deadline of Dec. 31, 2024. After discussion the committee recommended declining those two late submissions, noting precedent and concern that making exceptions to deadlines could undermine future deadlines.

Other grant application notes recorded during the meeting: one applicant (number 17) withdrew, and some applicants (numbers 3, 11, 13, 21, 23 and 28) were sent letters requesting additional information from the screening committee and remain pending. The clerk and screening committee said they had widely promoted the grant opportunity through extension services, FSA, conservation district and newspaper notices.

The committee’s actions were recorded as recommendations to the full fiscal court; final approvals and any disbursements will be decided in the full court process.

Direct committee motions included a motion to recommend conditional approval for 16, 22 and 26 (motion carried), a motion recommending that parent/guardian signatures be permitted for under‑18 applicants (motion carried), and a motion recommending decline of late applications 33 and 34 (motion carried).