K‑State Extension seeks permission to host 4‑H 'town farm' at Seward County fairgrounds

Summer Stafford, a family and community wellness agent with K‑State Research & Extension, told the Seward County Board of Commissioners on April 6 that Extension staff want permission to house 4‑H and FFA animal projects at the Seward County Fairgrounds.

"We have kids that live in Liberal that would like to have animal projects but don't have a place to house them," Stafford said, describing the proposal as a way for suburban youth to participate in livestock projects and related education. She said the presenters provided a proposed memorandum of understanding and several options to commissioners and asked for permission to use fairgrounds space seasonally.

Staff rule the presenters said the program would be restricted to Seward County youth and run on a seasonal schedule tied to the livestock show calendar rather than year‑round housing. Stafford and Jade Green, identified by Extension staff as a livestock/4‑H agent, told commissioners they had coordinated with local FFA instructors so both 4‑H and FFA participants could use the facility while county residents would be prioritized.

County staff said the draft agreement can be routed immediately to legal counsel for review if the commission agrees with the basic terms. The commission indicated informal preapproval pending that legal review and invited the Extension team to return to the board's regular meeting on April 20 with youth participants to speak about the program.

If the commission approves the MOU after legal review, staff said the county would set up internal accounting line items so fees or deposits from families can be tracked and applied to fairground utilities and maintenance rather than routed to a separate account.