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Stevens County Extension reports growth in 4‑H and master naturalist activity; U of M president to attend county fair
Summary
Regional Extension director Trisha Sheehan told commissioners Extension now has more than 300 youth members and about 90 screened volunteers; the University of Minnesota president Rebecca Cunningham is scheduled to visit the Stevens County Fair on Aug. 14 to highlight 4‑H activities.
Trisha Sheehan, the regional director for the Extension department, briefed the Stevens County Board on Extension programs and outreach, reporting membership gains, youth programming and upcoming fair events.
Sheehan said the county now has nine certified Master Naturalists and more than 300 youth members enrolled in Extension programs — up from about 267 the previous year. She noted Extension partners, including Community Ed and Summer Sizzle, helped drive participation and that Extension maintains about 90 screened volunteers who have completed background checks and safety training.
“...when you think about hours and, dollars, that's over $2,000 that somebody is their time is being given back to Stevens County specifically,” Sheehan said while describing volunteer service hours and focus areas in native habitat and aquatic invasive species monitoring.
Sheehan said the University of Minnesota president Rebecca Cunningham will attend the Stevens County Fair on Aug. 14, where Extension will showcase 4‑H programming and agrivoltaics work by local presenters. Team members Katie Kalina and Krista Duncan described programs such as robotics sessions, a Microgreen education unit for third graders, Summer Sizzle, and a youth ambassador program.
Why it matters: growth in youth programming and screening of volunteers affects county programming capacity and community engagement. Commissioners asked about age thresholds for 4‑H membership (kindergarten and up) and heard about new ambassador and junior ambassador initiatives intended to build leadership and volunteer pipelines.
What’s next: Extension staff will continue program rollout ahead of the county fair and track volunteer engagement and project participation through the fall.
