Extension director outlines new staff, 4‑H enrollment and risk to SNAP educator post

Casey Kimmy, county director for the University of Illinois Extension covering Clay, Effingham, Fayette and Jasper counties, updated the committee on staffing and program activity and asked for interagency coordination on health and education initiatives.

Kimmy said the office recently hired a full-time support assistant, Natalie Stein, who started last week and will staff the office daily. “She started last week, and she's already doing great,” Kimmy said, noting the office had been without a full-time person since July. Kimmy reported 4‑H enrollment at about 175 youth with 86 adult volunteers, and highlighted plans for countywide programming including a health/healthy-living day for elementary students and STEM-style events.

On SNAP education, Kimmy warned the committee that “unfortunately, her exact position will no longer exist after June” unless the Extension or campus can reassign or fund the role. Kimmy said the SNAP educator had been integral to securing grants and coordinating food donations and that efforts are underway to find a way to retain that capacity within the unit.

Kimmy also described volunteer-management work by the county’s 4‑H coordinator and master gardener contributions (about 153 volunteer hours and more than 730 pounds of produce donated to local charities). She urged coordination between the Extension and county health department on initiatives such as opioid-fund‑supported programs and outreach.

Kimmy said Extension staff will send meeting notifications and intends to schedule daytime meetings to improve participation.