Letter: Don't look to 4-H for cuts

• 4-H

4-H

Talk about it

We’re writing on the behalf of several Nobles County 4-H members, concerning the upcoming budget cuts the county commissioners will be facing and the money the Extension has in reserves.

The Extension office in Nobles County houses the Nutritional Education Program and Financial Literacy Program, as well as 4-H. Youth development organizations exist to promote the positive and healthy development of young people. The 4-H youth organization is based on hard work, goal setting, developing leadership skills, giving back to the community and many other lifelong skills. The 4-H motto is “To Make the Best Better,” not only in building character and citizenship, but also in raising the standards of individual and club and county achievement.

Not only is 4-H a youth organization, it is also a family organization. 4-H encourages families to learn and grow together. 4-H has been a huge part in each one of our lives. This program offers members numerous activities and opportunities throughout each year. 4-H gives us the chance to set and achieve many different goals for ourselves. The members of the Nobles County 4-H look forward to both County and State Fair levels each year. We all enjoy hanging out and spending time with the new friends 4-H has provided us with. This program has been able to keep members off the streets and from getting into trouble.

We are concerned that if the county commissioners withdraw the county Extension reserve funds, we may not have access to funding we may need in the future for Extension and 4-H. This is not fair to members who have put their heart and soul into the Nobles County 4-H organization. Several have spent many years putting their all into this program. It would not be right to take something so special away from the 4-H members. We would like to continue creating new knowledge and continue to make the best better.

County commissioners, please think twice before you take funds away from this organization and also Extension, which has been around for more than 100 years and has helped better educate youth for their futures. The University of Minnesota-Extension program has been the main partner with our 4-H program. With these funds being used elsewhere it affects the entire county who are either directly or indirectly related to the 4-H program, but by all of those who take advantage of what Extension continues to offer.

With the loss of funding for our summer intern last year, we have already begun planning to continue to fundraise to support this position. With the money that was in reserve, we may possibly have been able to help support this opportunity for individuals who are looking for opportunities to enhance their own experience.

Please continue to think of those who will be affected both directly and indirectly as you make funding decisions. Our Extension Committee has done their best to cut from their already small budget. We ask that you consider looking at other possibilities of cutting funds, rather than seeing a quick dollar sign with money that has been saved by being financially responsible for the Extension program. We encourage the county commissioners and the county administrator to attend our 2009 Nobles County 4-H Achievement Banquet on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 6 pm at the American Reformed Church in Worthington to see all of the accomplishments us as 4-H members have achieved throughout this past year.

In the 4-H Spirit,

Kristi & Stephanie Lubben; Benjamin Cunningham; Brandon and Justin Weidert; Anna, Alissa, Megan and Morgan Sauer; DJ Lambert; Logan and Mason Ellenbecker; Stephanie Behrens; Kennedy and Madison Cummings; Paige and Cody Gravenhof; Amy and Lori Lubben; Kristen Dierks; Derek and Abby Drenth; Brandon and Trevor Gruis; Sara, Megan and Anya Hartzler; Paul and Phillip Duerr; Rob Kuhl; Craig and Deron Soderholm; Amanda and Kassie Wilkening; Elizabeth Erwin; Sadie Groenewold; Cheyenna, Dakota, Dustin and Dillon John; Laura and Nick Lorang; Nathan and Adam Russell; Megan Blanchard; Grayson Christensen; and Sarah Jacobs.

Tags: nobles county, opinion, letters, 4-h, budget, funding