Letter to the Editor: County Extension serves as core function of government

Dear Editor,

On KWTO’s Morningline Show on Oct. 23, Greene County Presiding Commissioner Jim Viebrock said the University of Missouri Extension is only a “civic organization” not a “core function” of county government. That statement ignores the fact that every county Extension council is an elected governing body established in Missouri state law as a function of county government. (Revised Statutes of Missouri Sections 262:550 to 262:620: County Extension Programs)

Call it what you want, but the Greene County Extension Council is not a civic organization. Our council is, by law, a governing body similar to other political subdivisions such as school boards and fire districts. An important difference is that the council does not have a stream of revenue apart from the Greene County Commission funding that is required by state law because county extension is designed to provide a core function for the county.

Saying extension councils are “civic organizations” is a great misunderstanding of the purpose that created the land grant mission. In the 1960s, Missouri county commissions endorsed this effort of being led by locally elected citizens. County Extension councils were established as an arm of county government to fulfill the local educational needs through research-based programming. Extension councils were to be funded in a partnership (federal, state, county) not with just minimum dollars, but funding that supported programs based on the needs of citizens. Federal and state laws for Extension date back to 1862 when the Morrill Act was passed. Though the county Extension Council law was written in 1961 with funding minimums, support in Greene County no longer provides for basic, professional office operations. That funding is needed, because extension is a core function of county government – not a “civic organization.” Missouri law says the three roles of the county commission are to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens.

Health education goes beyond public health. It includes nutrition, reduction in obesity, parenting skills, and an array of approaches to improving the mental and physical health of society – all areas that Extension focuses on. Safety (education, support and prevention) goes beyond law enforcement. It covers programming that prepares us for a natural disaster, services that help us recover quickly, reduction of injury and food safety. A big part of Extension’s work focuses on developing a safe, abundant, low-cost food supply in this county – both on the farm and in the garden.

Welfare is at the heart of Extension programs that focus on the economics and well being of society. Examples of these Extension programs include business services, youth development through 4-H, and community development to empower citizens to take the challenges of today and lead.

A county receives about a $7 return on every dollar invested in support of the local county Extension. At the minimum, residents are getting a bargain and the commission is underserving the county citizens. If the dollars for local support are not there, the programs of public value are not able to make the difference.

The Greene County Commission has the duty to fully fund local Extension operations equally with all other governmental departments. Extension is not merely a “civic organization,” as stated by Commissioner Viebrock. Rather, the local Extension council is a core function of county government, as outlined in state law.

—Carl Allison, Greene County Extension State Council chairman