Residents, 4‑H and farm groups urge Montgomery County to preserve Ag Center for Cooperative Extension

Speakers at the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners public forum pressed county officials to keep the Montgomery County Agriculture Center in its current role as the home of Cooperative Extension and youth agricultural programs.

The requests came from farmers, 4‑H members and local agricultural organizations who said the current Extension office is unsafe and that the Ag Center was donated and built specifically for agricultural education and events. "The Montgomery Extension Office Building is in disrepair as y'all seen," said Jillian Haywood, identifying herself as the current president of the Livestock Club. "This is not just an inconvenience. It's a health hazard requiring immediate action," Mary Poplin, president of the Master Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, told commissioners.

Speakers said the Ag Center has hosted club meetings, fairs and livestock events for decades and that moving Extension offices into the building or otherwise reducing the facility's livestock and meeting space would harm 4‑H and other youth programs. Danny McCray, who described long involvement in county agriculture organizations, said, "I'm against putting offices now inside" the livestock end because the back area is regularly used for shows, animal pens and 4‑H activities.

Why it matters: The Agriculture Center sits on land donated in 1959 specifically for agricultural purposes, and community members said that fundraising and volunteer labor built and sustained the facility. Mary Poplin asked the board to honor a July 16 decision to renovate the Ag Center for Cooperative Extension and to proceed with the most cost‑effective option for housing Extension programming.

Details and context: Multiple speakers described the Ag Center's history and current needs. Danny McCray reviewed the center's original fundraising and construction, saying county volunteers raised about $80,000 to build an initial structure and later funded a larger building that he estimated cost roughly $120,000. A speaker said community fundraising of $122,766 in 1977 would be the equivalent of more than $600,000 today. Several speakers emphasized that Extension programming — including master gardener training, livestock clubs and youth fairs — requires large, flexible spaces, a functioning kitchen, reliable HVAC and mold‑free classrooms.

Local agricultural leaders highlighted the economic role of farming in the county. Todd King, president of the Montgomery County Farm Bureau, cited USDA figures and industry rankings, saying combining livestock, poultry, dairy and row crops produced roughly $229,999,000 in cash receipts for county farmers (per the 2022 USDA data he referenced) and that the county has about 210 farms with an average farmer age of 57.3.

Voices from youth and volunteers: Several youth speakers described how the Ag Center supports learning and community events. Thirteen‑year‑old Heidi Young, a Montgomery 4‑H member, told the board the Ag Center provides a place to hold chicken shows and practice presenting animals: "We need a large space to fit in all our new members." Madeline Moles, who said she lives on a fourth‑generation farm, said the Ag Center is essential for county 4‑H programming.

County response and next steps: Board members acknowledged the public comments and thanked speakers for attending. The commission did not take immediate action to change the Ag Center's status during the meeting; several commissioners said they would continue to examine options and consider the community input when planning facility uses and renovations. County staff referenced prior work‑session discussions about county facility needs and cost comparisons but did not announce a final decision at the meeting.

Ending: Commenters asked the board to prioritize youth and agricultural education in any facility plan and to seek grants and partnerships to maintain or upgrade the Ag Center. Commissioners indicated they would review the concerns and the board's prior direction before making a formal decision.