Proposed MU Extension budget cuts raise ire, concern of local people

Governor Nixon has proposed dramatic cuts in funding for the states University of Missouri Extension Service, 50 percent. Local extension agent Wayne Prewitt said that he couldn't speak to the media on the issue but could confirm the proposed cuts.

Former youth specialist Leonard Ernsbarger said he hadn't heard of the cuts until contacted and said he thought the cuts were uncalled for.

"That would be ridiculous," Ernsbarger said. "He must not have any concept of what extension does. This will have an impact on a lot of areas; social, educational, financial and others."

Ernsbarger said that this is not the first time the extension service has faced cutbacks and it was impractical to make any more.

"The extension has taken a lot of cuts over the years and it's just not practical," Ernsbarger said. "There are a lot of programs, good programs, that could be lost if he goes forward with this."

Ernsbarger questioned what Nixon thought the extension service was.

"He (Nixon) may consider this a rural program but it is much more than that," Ernsbarger said. "There are programs that affects people in all parts of Missouri, nutrition programs and things like that."

Ernsbarger said even though he had been retired many years he still considered himself a part of the program.

"Even though I've been out of it for 20 years, I think extension is so essential my blood is still green," Ernsbarger said.

Carl Allison from Greene County shares Ernsbarger's passion for the university's program and shared his views.

"I'm just speaking as a volunteer," Allison said. "I'm just a concerned citizen but I felt it important to share how I felt. This has grave consequences if this stands ... with huge concern for the short/long term viability of the programs so important to the citizens of Missouri. I believe these concerns are shared by thousands of others."

Allison said that the cuts would actually take more money out of the program than reflected in the budget.

"It's bad business, that money is leveraged five or six times by grants and other funds so it's really taking much more out that the figures show."

Some of the figures Allison provided show a wide variety of programs that involve Missourians from all across the state.

"Agriculture is the base but it spreads across the whole economy," Allison said.

Last year Extension's Business Development Program assisted business owners with start-up and management counseling, training and government contracts, resulting in increased sales of more than $211 million; creation or retention of 11,100 jobs; acquisition of $105 million in new financing; and winning of local, state or federal government contracts totaling $434 million.

A full 10 percent of Missouri youth are involved in 4-H. Missouri 4-H develops contributing, caring leaders. Studies have shown that children involved in 4-H and other extracurricular activities are 70 percent more likely to go to college.

Allison pointed out that the extension service has a long history of helping Missourians going back to the Civil War.

"It all goes back to 1862 and the land-grand colleges," Allison said. "The extension service has been helping provide a better life for Missourians for a long time."

Allison said it would be the youth that are hit the hardest.

"Who suffers?" Allison said. "It will be the 40-pounders and the 140-pounders, the children. 4-H has had such an impact on so many young people it is vital it continues to receive adequate support."