Budget Cuts Reduce 4-H Agents

Budget cuts have force 4-H to reduce and/or relocate County Extension Agents.  Below is a cut and past of a letter to 4-H Families and Friends issued by Jeff Bader, Cooperative Extension Service, Norther District Deparment Head. 

March 20th, 2012

Dear Torrance County 4-H Families and Friends,

My name is Dr. Jeff Bader and I am the Northern District Department Head for the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service. The Torrance County Extension Office is in my district. First I would like to thank you for your support of the Torrance County Extension Office and the 4-H program in particular. I realize it takes a great commitment of time, effort and resources to make 4-H what it is.

As I am sure you are aware, state budget cuts over the last three years have caused New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service to reduce positions across the state. I am writing because I feel you are owed an explanation of why these cuts have affected Torrance County.

The reductions across the state included five State Specialist and 10 County Extension Agent positions. The 4-H Agent position in Torrance County was one of the ten agent positions affected. The reduction decisions were based on population numbers in each county. Unfortunately Torrance County’s population per agent fell within the criteria for reduction.

Six of the 10 agent positions affected were occupied including the 4-H Agent position held by Mr. Metzger. Those six agents have been asked to move to counties that had open positions that fell outside of the population criteria. The six agents that were asked to move were selected by the type of positions that were open in the other counties. Most of which happened to be 4-H. Agent performance and seniority were not factors in the selections.

I know Mr. Metzger is well liked and you will miss him but for the foreseeable future the Extension Service will only be able to support two Agents in Torrance County. Both Mr. Winn and Ms. Neish will conduct adult and 4-H youth programming. I would like to ask you for your help and cooperation in keeping your 4-H program strong.