Ohio State should fund Extension programs

To the editor:

The 4H/FFA programs and their support by local Agricultural Extension

Agencies were put in place because society long ago recognized the absolute

need to provide for a long-term stream of producers – people with the

knowledge and skill and heart and work ethic to produce the foods and

textiles necessary to feed and cloth an ever-growing population. Each and

every one of today’s American farmers is generally credited with the

Productivity to feed 153 people and that all by itself is certainly vivid

testimony to the incredible success and irreplaceable value of the 4H/FFA

and local Extension programs.

But in counties like Highland the 4H/FFA is not just a necessary and

successful program of agricultural and home management Productivity. It’s

Productivity is an integral part of the entire fabric of Life here;

extending throughout the people and families and communities themselves. It

is a predictable part of the social Future for our little tots pedaling

around on toy tractors (just like Dad and Grampa did). 4H/FFA is a big part

of the present our older children are using as a sturdy trellis to grow

healthy upon and form the bonds to Productivity and Responsibility the world

will need of its’ young adults tomorrow. It is the abiding History of our

mature folks whose productivity has been quietly, steadfastly supporting

virtually every other accomplishment our generation can claim. The “head”,

“heart”, “hands”, and “health” of 4H/FFA are not, and never have been just

empty words. Neither Highland County nor its’ generations of good people

would have been what they have been all these decades had it not been for

the productivity gift-wrapped in those humble blue jackets.

The wrecked Economy now leaves the County short of funds to help

support the OSU-Extension office and the announcement has been made that the

4h/FFA programs here, as well as the office itself may be discontinued. That

news rang odd to me because OSU was long-ago designated a land-grant

university with the charge to educate the public and support 4H/FFA programs

through the Ag-extension offices. Those purposes are the specific reasons

public monies and land donations of more than a thousand acres and many new

facilities; large operating budgets and first-class staff were provided to

OSU. So why is the County’s shortfall the death knell for these most

valuable programs?  Where is the financial support for the Extension office

from OSU? The University and their $2-million-per-year President may feel a

bit of “pinch” now too, but nothing even remotely resembling 10,000 jobs

lost in the passed year.

While stumbling around asking questions about the matter, it seems like

people understand the logic of asking OSU to provide the funding for the

programs they were charged to support but, for some reason, are reluctant to

even go to OSU with that request – or perhaps very willing to accept “No” as

an answer from OSU. I am hoping the Highland (et al) County Commissioners

and the local and State Farm Bureau people who are now discussing what to do

will give real consideration to a serious approach to OSU but the faint

indication is that they are wary of even allowing that option on their

table. And that is distressing. The one bright beam of light so far is Rep.

David Daniels agreeing with the idea that OSU should be approached and being

willing to help along those lines in order to keep the Productivity and flow

of Productive people working.

A dismaying feature of this situation is that while OSU has (as of yet)

seemed bored with, or at last ominously silent about the plight of our most

productive and valuable state office and programs, their ears perk up

immediately upon mention of the Consumer activity they have begun in the

form of their Farm Science Review.

Granted, the FSR is fun and interesting to attend but it is not part of

the productivity marching orders OSU received. And it certainly is very,

very far from Necessary to local farmers. Granted, it brings lots of dollars

to OSU and, since it is a Consumer event – a Sales event, it has been a very

cost-effective way for the big vendors (and the big University) to peddle

their wares and ideas to their Consumer base. It also showcases technology,

for better or worse. It is a large helping of Consumerism seasoned with

small doses of productivity gain.

With that in mind one can ask nearly anyone of any age in Highland if

they would rather do without the 4H/FFA and Extension office or without the

annual Farm Science Review and I’ll bet eight dollars in small, unmarked

bills that almost everyone would say OSU should ditch the Farm Science

Review and use the money saved to continue the 4H/FFA programs and other

Extension Office programs. Yet I suspect neither the County Commission nor

the Farm Bureau would broach that option to OSU.

So I am disheartened by the willingness of local leaders to suggest

we, the citizens of the hardest hit county in the state, pass a(nother) levy

to tax ourselves to support the programs rather than go for funding to the

University charged (and paid) to provide the programs. We already

individually pay tons of taxes yet everything we actually need, or that is

productive, seems always to require additional tax levies. After a while it

seems like legalized extortion. I’ll ask forgiveness for that wee dram of

snarl and just suggest that we give substantial encouragement to our local

County and Farm Bureau leaders to go to OSU for the funding to carry the

Extension Office. 

If they refuse or if OSU refuses, perhaps an outright boycott 

of the Farm Science Review in order to elicit involvement by the big

Ag. vendors on our behalf would be possible. Surely, they can see that

rampant, mindless Consumerism has wrecked our Economy and only Productivity on the many, many local fronts can get it on its feet again.

Sincerely,

Jim Moore

Hillsboro