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4-H, other programs face drastic WSU funding cuts

By John Dodge | The Olympian • Published March 07, 2009

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Deep cuts in higher education could be a body blow to the time-honored Washington State University extension service programs offered in every county in the state.

Photo Gallery:

The 4-H Dog Club

In South Sound, thousands of people have benefitted from the university-funded programs that engage and teach people about food safety and nutrition, gardening, small-farm management, on-site septic maintenance, 4-H and more.

Although no decisions have been made, WSU officials are considering a 50 percent cut in extension service funding if they are required by the 2009-10 state budget to cut university funding by 12 percent, said Bob Simmons, director of the WSU Mason County Extension. If state lawmakers set the university budget cut at 18 percent, funding cuts for the extension service could climb to 75 percent.

"It would alter the face of extension as we know it," said Cliff Moore, who recently resigned as director of the WSU's Thurston County Extension program to take a job as director of the new Thurston County Resource Stewardship Department.

Already, the proposed budget cuts are sending a wave of panic through people involved in 4-H in Thurston County, which includes about 700 children and 250 adult volunteers.

"Rumors are flying that there won't be a county fair this year or 4-H won't be at the fair," said Emily Killeen, 4-H program coordinator for the WSU Thurston County Extension.

She said the rumors are unfounded, but there are discussions under way to scale back the fair or increase fees for fair participants.

"Right now, we know nothing, but we're a little worried," said Chris Swearingen, a South Bay resident and 4-H club volunteer who works with children who have dogs and goats.

In a February open letter to the extension community, WSU president Elson Floyd shed little light on the budget cuts.

"We urge all of you to understand that these are merely scenarios of possible approaches to addressing a $62 million or $93 million biennial budget reduction in our state-appropriated budget," he said.