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Albany County Extension reports 4‑H successes, warns of SNAP‑Ed cuts and program restructure
Summary
Extension staff highlighted 4‑H summer successes and exchange trips, announced a fundraising banquet on Oct. 9, and warned that federal SNAP‑Ed funding cuts reduced statewide educators from 22 to 7 under a regional model; Albany and Carbon counties will remain in Region 1 and retain an educator.
Amanda, representing the Extension Office, briefed commissioners on summer 4‑H activities, an exchange trip to New York, upcoming events and a major change to the county's nutrition education program after federal funding cuts.
"We took 46 exhibitors" to the state fair and several teams will represent Albany County at national competitions, Amanda reported, citing livestock, shooting sports and wool‑judging accomplishments. She announced the 4‑H fundraising banquet, renamed "Feed the Dream," on Oct. 9 to support travel for teams headed to national contests.
Amanda said the federal SNAP‑Ed funding stream was reduced after recent federal action, forcing Wyoming to restructure the sensible nutrition program from 22 local educators to a seven‑region model. "So the challenge then was to be identifying the areas with the most need," she said, and confirmed Albany County is in Region 1 along with Carbon County so "Ruth is able to stay on with us and cover Albany and Carbon County." Funding will come from a different federal pot rather than the previous SNAP‑Ed allocation.
She detailed local extension activities, including Ag & Art ranch tours that drew about 60 attendees in Albany County, a sewing‑machine maintenance clinic that reached capacity with a waiting list, and plans for staff professional development in November that could prompt brief office closures.
Commissioners asked about geographic flexibility for the remaining educator and the ability to deliver programming during Wyoming winters; Amanda said the model will be flexible and some counties may rely on online programming where travel is impractical.
No formal board action was required on the updates presented.
