Business : EXTENSION COUNCIL MEMBERS VISIT LEGISLATORS IN DES MOINES

Members of the Benton County  Extension Council spoke with their legislators at the annual Iowa Association of County Extension Councils (IACEC) legislative day on March 16.  They joined 75 Extension Council members and Extension supporters from across the state of Iowa.

Those attending included Judi Hertle of Vinton, Kathy Janss of Keystone and Nancy Jensen of Luzerne.  The Extension Council members met with Senator Tim Kapucian and Representative Dawn Pettengill.

“The current budget situation is concerning to Extension supporters.  We have taken significant cuts to our budget in the past two years.  Governor Brandstad’s budget recommends another six percent cut for ISU Extension for Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12).  We asked our legislators to restore the funding for Iowa State University and Extension to FY11 levels,” said Sybil Soukup, IACEC Legislative Chairperson. 

The Iowa Association of County Extension Councils represents 900 council members. At the local level, county extension councils manage ISU Extension programs for agriculture and natural resources, business and industry, community and economic development, families, and 4-H youth development.