USU Extension reports statewide outreach, asks county for $380,000 budget increase

Utah State University Extension presented a semiannual report to the Utah County Commission on services and staffing in the county, and asked the commission for $380,000 in additional county funding for 2023.

Tom Bettis, county director for USU Extension, told the commission the program leverages federal, state and county funds and estimated payroll support in Utah County at about $440,000, direct services at $587,000 and nearly $800,000 in grant funding; he said extension volunteers contributed roughly $384,000 in value and that total reported impacts were about $2,199,000. "USU is funded by federal, state, and county funds," Bettis said, and he described a staffing addition: a 4-H coordinator whose budget he said was approximately $22,000.

The report included short summaries from Extension staff. Cindy Jenkins, who works in home and community programs, highlighted diabetes education efforts funded by a grant and invited commissioners to a Boulder Way Forward event on Aug. 6; she said the diabetes program had reached a substantial number of residents and that more classes are planned in 2024. Jake Hadfield, who works in agriculture, said Farm Field Days drew 2,371 elementary students this cycle (including about 105 homeschoolers) and relied on more than 1,000 volunteer hours, an in-kind value he estimated at about $31,000. And Heather Thompson described a statewide increase in youth engagement in horse programs—she said participation had increased roughly 87 percent in two years and that local youth competed at the state horse show.

Bettis framed the $380,000 budget request as a response to inflation, cost-of-living adjustments and an ongoing lease increase for USU facilities in the county. "Our 2023 budget, we're requesting 380,000, and that is mainly due to this inflation, cola increases, and the lease in our building," he said. Commissioners praised program outcomes and the reporting; no formal action was taken during the presentation portion of the meeting.

The Extension staff outlined upcoming education opportunities including a pesticide applicator training offering continuing education credits on Oct. 12, a sheep education night on Oct. 24 and a beef education night on Nov. 7. Commissioners encouraged continued outreach and thanked staff for the presentation.

The work session concluded with the commission moving on to other agenda items.