Regarding the 2013-2014 county budget and the agricultural commissioner/U.C. Cooperative Extension:
The Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau represents more than 600 diversified agriculturalists in Santa Barbara County. Agriculture provides a strong economic base of the county, with a local impact of more than $2.5 billion.
It has come to the attention of the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau Board of Directors that Santa Barbara County’s monetary contribution of $153,000 for the continued operation of the U.C. Cooperative Extension/4-H program in 2013-2014 may be eliminated.
The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) has been an integral part of the agricultural community of Santa Barbara County since 1927. UCCE advisors and support staff work on issues facing agriculture, including invasive pest control, water quality improvement, sustainable farming practices, range improvement, and implementation of cutting-edge technologies that allow our farmers to remain competitive in a global market. In addition, UCCE oversees the 4-H youth development program with more than 855 youth enrolled in 2013. In the last two years, the Santa Barbara County 4-H program has added more than 200 members, 70 volunteer leaders, and has recently chartered two new clubs within the county. The 4-H program in our county enables its young members to emerge as leaders, giving back to their local communities many times over.
The work of 4-H and UCCE goes beyond its volunteer leaders and enrolled youth; it reaches out into communities throughout the county. Last year, the animals raised by the 4-H youth were sold at the County Fair and purchased by the Wood-Claeyssen foundation, which accounted for more than 50,000 pounds of meat being donated to the local Food Bank, helping many families in need. Additionally, 4-Hers and their families help support numerous businesses throughout the community, including feed and clothing stores along with local large and small livestock producers.
County funding for UCCE and its 4-H programs has been cut for the last 10 years from a high of $287,634 to the current level of $153,000. In fiscal year 2011-2012, the $153,000 from the county was leveraged by state and federal support for a total of $936,424 in UCCE funding. In addition, Santa Barbara County 4-H is fundraising to offset the cost of its programs.
In fiscal year 2011-2012, they were able to raise more than $68,000 through various fundraising activities and donations. They hope to surpass that amount in 2013. Santa Barbara County 4-H is currently used as a model across the state on how to successfully acquire private funding to support their programs.
The 4-H program cannot be privatized as it was part of the Smith- Lever act passed by Congress in 1914, which created a structure in every state for a cooperative between USDA, the land grant university in each state, and the individual county. In California, that organization is called the UC Cooperative Extension.
The Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau Board of Directors respectfully asks the Board of Supervisors to allocate $153,000 and fund the existing UCCE program for fiscal year 2013/2014, while developing a permanent funding solution for this very important program in subsequent years. 2014 could be a year of transition, enabling the county executive office, the county agricultural commissioner, and the UCCE county director to work together and identify the best solution for the county, the university, and the residents of Santa Barbara County to maintain these critically important programs for our youth, while at the same time protecting the viability of agriculture in Santa Barbara County.
Paul Van Leer is president of the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau. Send comments to the executive editor at rmiller@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 30 – Jun 6, 2013.
