Business : AN EXTENSION COUNCIL LIASION TALKS WITH LEGISLATORS

A liaison of the Benton Extension Council spoke with their legislators at the annual Iowa Association of County Extension Councils (IACEC) legislative day on March 13. She joined Extension Council members and Extension supporters from across the state of Iowa.

Those attending included Terry and Judi Hertle, Don and Cheryl Frese. The Extension Council Liaison (Judi Hertle) met with Senator Tim Kapucian and Representative Dawn Pettengill.

“As Extension and Outreach is funded through Iowa State University, we asked that the legislators support the governor’s budget recommendation for FY2014 which requests a 2.6% increase in funding for the general Iowa State University budget line,” said Diann Anderson, IACEC President. “However, Governor Branstad is recommending no increases for the line items under Iowa State University, which includes the Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension. Neglecting the non-general university budget lines compromises Iowa State’s ability to maintain strengths in areas critical to the future of Iowa’s agriculture, natural resources, communities, families, youth, business and industry, and consumers. Also put at risk is the ability to provide science-based educational programs and services to citizens, institutions and businesses in their local communities. Therefore, we also asked legislators to support investing in Iowans and growing our economy by providing the same 2.6% increase for the ISU-Cooperative Extension budget line for FY2014 as the governor proposed for the general ISU line.”

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.