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Broadwater County approves new 4‑H assistant position to help growing program
Summary
After hearing from MSU Extension staff, volunteers and residents, the Broadwater County Commission voted to create a 4‑H assistant position (initially 32 hours with approval up to 40) to support rising enrollment and fair operations; the county estimated about $40,000 annually plus startup costs.
Broadwater County commissioners voted to create a 4‑H assistant position to help manage rapid program growth and volunteer coordination in the county's MSU Extension office.
Allison Kosto, the county extension agent, told the commission the 4‑H program has grown substantially over the last decade — roughly a 55% increase — and that administrative capacity has not kept pace. "I spend more than half of my time working with the 4‑H program," Kosto said, arguing that a dedicated assistant would improve program quality, volunteer retention and allow expansion into other extension services.
Kosto proposed a 32‑hour part‑time position (with the possibility of 40 hours), estimated at about $40,000 a year added to the extension budget plus roughly $4,200 in startup costs for equipment. She also proposed adjusting current staff assignments so Jessica Erickson would shift toward a 50/50 split between extension and fair duties.
Jessica Erickson, the county fair manager and extension administrative assistant, said the position would relieve pressure from increased fair and extension workloads, including site visits and sample processing. "There's so much more coming in — soil samples, site visits, questions from new residents — we need capacity," Erickson said.
MSU Extension regional head Dan Lucas and several community members including longtime volunteers voiced support. "Adding capacity prevents burnout and helps maintain program quality," Lucas said. Local volunteers and ranchers described the 4‑H program as a strong economic and community contributor.
Commissioners moved and seconded the request to create the position and approved the measure. The commission directed staff to work through budget details, including whether to start at 32 hours (which qualifies for benefits) with an option to expand toward 40 hours if needed. The hire timeline discussed aimed at filling the role in time for the county fair.
The commission's action is a personnel and budget decision for the county; final hiring and exact wage/scheduling details will be settled through staff processes and available funds.
