By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

HILLSBORO, Ohio — Tough economic times have struck many businesses. Ag offices are no exception; earlier this month The Ohio State University extension announced closure of offices in Highland, Carroll and Jackson counties because of failed primary levies in May.

“It’s just been devastating,” said Highland County extension Director Rose Fisher Merkowitz. “We did so much to build our programs, which included three educators, one program assistant and two full-time support staffers. We’re now surviving with just one educator and a part-time support staffer.”

Highland County extension is seeking funding from other sources, including the county government general fund. That type is the preferred funding for most of Ohio’s 88 counties.

Highland County has minimal funding available to operate its extension office until the end of the calendar year. After that things become more bleak.

“Our economy in this county is really suffering,” Merkowitz said. “We’re hoping our county commissioners come up with the money for at least one more educator or even enough to keep us up and running. We won’t get back to where we need to be anytime soon, though.”

With the defeat of its levy, Carroll County does not have the ability to generate local matching funds needed to keep the extension office open. That office has ended all agricultural, natural resource, community development and family and consumer science programming and staffing immediately.

OSU extension will work with the local 4-H educator to continue the 4-H program in that county until the end of the Ohio State Fair on Aug. 8.

Carroll County extension’s advisory committee plans to seek funding again via a levy request on the November ballot. If successful in November, the office will reopen and restore services after collecting the revenue. But at this time there are no local funds available from other sources.

Jackson County’s advisory committee also plans to seek funds again on the November ballot. Until then, its office will be funded with contributions from local donors.

“Residents in Carroll and Jackson counties have expressed support for the work extension does, but times are tough economically,” said Keith Smith, associate vice president for agricultural administration at OSU and director of extension. “We remain hopeful that commissioners and voters in these counties will once again find a way to support extension services.”

Smith said once the Ohio State Fair is over, the 4-H program and 4-H membership in Carroll County will cease to exist. He said cutbacks in 4-H in these counties hurts the most.

“We know many of our 4-H members have already invested time and money into their 4-H projects,” Smith said.

“We want to support these young people and allow them to finish what they started by participating in their county fair and the Ohio State Fair.

“The real work in 4-H begins long before the fair. The true essence of 4-H is the life skills, leadership and citizenship development that occurs in these youth. We want nothing more than to continue our important work in all communities throughout Ohio,” Smith said. Out of fairness to counties and taxpayers, children from a county that does not fund extension cannot participate in 4-H in another county.

Those at the county level feel the stress of these budget woes, as do those in the state offices.

“Unfortunately, we must make some tough business decisions about the future of extension in counties that are unable to financially support this vital partnership, which also relies on state and federal funding,” Smith said.

“This is a gut-wrenching decision, because we realize that OSU extension and the services we support, including 4-H youth development, affect the lives of many people in each of Ohio’s 88 counties.”

Despite the grim outlook, some, like Smith, remain optimistic.
“We appreciate all communities’ support for extension’s mission, and we are pleased that an extension levy this spring for Van Wert County passed with strong support,” Smith said, “and this follows on the heels of two levies passing in the last year for Morrow and Hardin counties.”

Extension reaches more than 330,000 Ohio youth each year through its Youth Development Program. Extension works with businesses, farms and communities to help them become more prosperous in the areas of nutrition, food safety and financial management.

Extension was established as a partnership, requiring local support before state and federal dollars are provided.