Additional 4-H Funding to Be Sought

Stephens County Extension Agent Forrest Connelly said Friday that he will now work to seek additional funding elsewhere to cover the money lost from the 4-H program budget when the Stephens County Board of Education voted to cut its allocation to the program.

Last Thursday, the Stephens County Board of Education voted to cut its level of funding to the county’s 4-H program from just under $20,000 a year to about $6,000 a year.

That was after the board considering dropping all funding and pulling out of the memorandum of understanding for the program completely.

Connelly asked the board last week before its vote to consider the partial funding amount it approved as a show of support for the program.

He said with the school board showing some level of commitment to the program, he will now approach the other entities that provide money for 4-H to see if they will make up the difference to keep the program going forward at the same level it is now.

“At this point, I will go back to University of Georgia Extension and the (Stephens County) Board of Commissioners, who are also part of this partnership to have this 4-H agent to try to secure those funds,” said Connelly.

He said that even though the funding was cut, providing something is significant to show support.

Connelly said he appreciates the school board members that voted to provide the $6,000 in yearly funding.

According to Connelly, he will have 90 days from the end of January to try and find that additional funding.