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Extension agent reports growth in Hancock County 4-H, seeks opioid-settlement funds for prevention role
Summary
At the March 12 Hancock County Commission meeting, extension agent Zachary White summarized a busy 2025—including camps serving about 130 children, Storybook Cafe reaching 275 kids, and 350 school contact hours—and said the office has been awarded $240,000 from an opioid settlement to fund a prevention program assistant, funds not yet received.
Zachary White, Hancock County extension agent, told the Hancock County Commission on March 12 that the extension office expanded youth programming in 2025 and expects a $240,000 opioid‑settlement grant to help create a prevention program assistant post, though the money has not yet been disbursed.
White said the extension ran four camps last year—Hancock County 4‑H camp, a cloverbud camp, its first STEM camp and a Wart and Cloverbud Camp—reaching roughly 130 children in the camping program. He told the commission two new 4‑H clubs started in the county and that free canning classes and community service projects kept volunteers busy.
"We had four 4 camps here in the county ... we reached about 130 kids just in our camping program," White said. He also said the Storybook Cafe served 275 children across six locations and extension staff recorded more than 350 hours working in elementary schools on engineering, design and environmental science programs.
White described the opioid settlement funds as targeted to prevention work: "we were also able to get 240,000 from the opioid settlement fund to help make a program assistant over at the extension office. We've not seen that money yet, but we're hoping... we'll be able to establish a prevention program assistant to help provide much needed education here in the county." The commission did not take any formal action on the grant at the meeting; White said the funds were pending disbursement.
White also highlighted local volunteer efforts, including master gardeners collaborating on park improvements around New Manchester and a senior‑center volunteer coordinating programs. He said the extension plans to continue expanding school outreach this year and to use the anticipated grant to bolster prevention education if and when the funds arrive.
The commission acknowledged the presentation and moved on to new business. White's remarks were presented as part of the government's regular agency reports and did not include a formal vote.
The extension presentation was introduced by the commission and occurred during the government agency presentations portion of the meeting; the office's next public updates will depend on the timeline for receipt of the opioid‑settlement funds.
