County Commissioners want to reassure anyone concerned about the future of the 4-H program in Moody County that the program isn’t going anywhere. What it looks like however after this current contract year with SDSU Extension, still needs to be hammered out.
Speculation and rumors have been circulating for months, Commission Chair Carla Bruning said before a full courtroom this past Thursday. In part, she understands why.
The state’s part-time staff person for the county, (in Moody for two days and Lake for three days) was removed from her role this spring by the Extension and given a more full-time position in Lake County. The move was something Lake County had reportedly hoped for anyway. But a letter to a parent from SDSU’s relatively new 4-H Program Director, Oakley Perry, on June 19 raised additional concerns for local families. In it, Perry stated:  
“As a brief reminder, Moody County government and our office have been unable to reach an agreement on what our partnership looks like. This stemmed from a May 3rd meeting between the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Moody County Commission, the Commission Assistant/HR Director, and myself where I was asked to remove Jen Hayford due to personality conflicts in the Extension Office and where my requests for mediation were denied by the group. The 4-H program shall end in Moody County on October 1, 2023 should no resolution be found. On that date the attached policy will go into effect in Moody County.”

Both parties acknowledge that communication between them has been lacking throughout the conflict, although Commissioners addressed publicly this past Thursday, and in an email, that it is not for a lack of trying on their part.
SDSU Extension has presented county leaders with two options, essentially to move the 90+ year-old program forward in Moody County. One would involve hiring through the Extension another part-time paid 4-H staff person to administer and assist with any 4-H programs in the county. The other would eliminate any paid staff, therefore reducing the programs available to local youth, and rely more heavily on volunteers and families to initiate their own program development.
Commissioners say the $11,200 that has always been earmarked for the state-led program remains in the budget for 2024. Trying to find that right staff person however, may be the toughest part, and without that staff person, any staff-involved programs — such as Robotics, could possibly go away without volunteers continuing to step up to initiate and run the programs.
Local 4-H’ers just took two teams to national competitions in Robotics. Losing the ability to have any of the current programs, local 4-H leaders and youth told Commissioners, would be devastating. They hope to see a dedicated staff person continue to be made available in Moody County.
“As a third generation and 4th generation with my kids, I want to see this continue,” said Roger Olivier, a longtime volunteer with 4-H and the Livestock Barn Superintendent for Moody County. “I appreciate that everyone is talking about this and the misinformation that’s happened the past couple of months, it wasn’t clear to club members as to what exactly happened and I hope it can come out maybe what did. But I want to emphasize the importance of having not only Deb in the office but this youth program advisor. With shooting sports, the communication from that person was excellent. The information was valuable.”
Liam Knippling, one of the local 4-H youth in the courtroom this past Thursday, added that he and the other simply appreciate the opportunity to participate in the programs that are available locally and hope that they continue.
“I just want to say thank you to all of you, Commissioners, especially our leaders for helping us get through this trying time. It’s helpful to have you all here to help us. I thought this was going to stop 4-H, but this gives me hope.”
A growing number of counties are moving away from the paid Extension staff position for their respective 4-H programs, according to Commission Assistant Marty Skroch. Talks most likely will resume on the matter at the first regularly scheduled Commission meeting in August.