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Atchison County Extension asks commissioners to lobby Doniphan and Brown counties for districting to restore staffing
Summary
Atchison County Extension representatives presented 2027 budget priorities on April 14 and asked the commission to lobby neighboring counties to form a district that would let the Extension Council levy its own funding, which presenters said could support restoring a second extension agent.
John Bishop and Clarissa, representing the Atchison County Extension Office, told the Board of County Commissioners on April 14 that the office’s 2027 budget priorities include outreach, programming and restoring staff capacity.
The presenters said the Extension Council reached 195 community members in 2025, operated a successful 2025 county fair and updated the fair book and the extension website. Clarissa said she is lining up a respiratory conference and that the office plans summer camps and livestock showmanship events.
John Bishop and Clarissa asked the commissioners to lobby Doniphan and Brown counties to consider forming a joint extension district. The presenters said a district would allow the Extension Council to levy its own funding rather than receive funding solely through the county; they told the board that the council had two extension agents through the end of 2024 and would like to restore a second agent.
Commissioners and presenters also noted that prior steps toward districting had not succeeded because Doniphan and Brown counties did not agree to move forward. No formal vote on districting or a levy change was taken at the April 14 meeting; the request was entered into the record for future budget planning.
Next steps: the presenters asked the board to advocate with neighboring counties; commissioners did not take immediate formal action on the request but moved the overall budget process into a scheduled workshop after the public meeting.
