Mercer County Extension Funding Needed After Cuts
What is that orange rust on my grass? How long do I process my garden green beans? The electricity is out; is the meat in my freezer safe? How can I better manage my diabetes?
 
These are just a few of the hundreds of questions answered every year by the staff of The Ohio State University Extension Office, a community-based organization that provides agriculture and family and consumer sciences education as well as leadership for Mercer county’s nearly 1,200 4-H members and adult volunteers.
 
With tight state and county budgets, local governments have struggled to fund all of their county programs. OSU Extension county funding has been significantly cut over that past two years and Mercer County, Ohio’s #1 agricultural county, has been particularly hard-hit; in 2011, the Extension received a15% cut in funding, and an additional 5% in 2012,making the elimination of programming a very real possibility.
 
Many families have been touched by classes that delivered information about nutrition, budgeting, or pain and disease management, have worked with Mercer County’s many agricultural education and technological advancement programs, and tens of thousands have been benefitted from 4-H programs, competitions, and camps that many credit for forging lifelong friendships.
 
Community fundraising is going to play a vital role in OSU Extensions’ future, and we are immensely grateful for the support of the community.   Supporters interested in volunteering can contact Theresa Howick, support committee chairperson via email at howickfarms@bright.net or by phoning her at 419-584-0626.
 
Greatly-needed donations can be made online at www.giveto.osu.edu  to the Mercer County Fund # 313920 and are completely tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.  100% of every donation will be available for use by Mercer County Extension.  This Mercer County fund is a part of a 501c3 organization.
 
Donation forms can be downloaded here:  Support Mercer County Extension