County plans to chop parts of Extension

Two key signature programs offered by the University of Minnesota Extension in Steele County are slated for the chopping block.

On Sept. 22, the Steele County Board of Commissioners voted to cut the Master Gardener program as well as the agriculture and natural resources educator. With the Master Gardener coordinator being part time and the ag educator full time, both positions are currently split in half financially between Steele and Rice counties. It’s unclear what Rice County plans to do with the programs.

Another key program within Extension is the 4-H program, which does not appear to be impacted at this time. However, the proposed changes could have impact on support staff that works with all three programs. 

The action caught everyone involved with both programs off guard.

“We had no idea, zip, zero,” said Lorrie Rugg, the longtime coordinator of the Master Gardeners. “My supervisor called me and I said, ‘what did you say?’ I was dumbfounded,” she added.

The Master Gardener program has been in existence for 30 years with Rugg serving as program coordinator for the past 25 years. Her current position called for 14 hours per week for each county, though many associated with the program say Rugg has committed many more hours than what she has been paid.

Rugg’s group in Steele County has reached an all-time high of 47 members this year with a current recruitment drive going on for next year. The county’s plan is leaving a sour taste for all those closely involved.

“I’ve been really stewing over this,” said Lois Nelson, a gardener and former mayor of Medford, who has been involved with the program for 15 years. “It was total surprise. We were blindsided.”

Nelson said is believes county commissioners don’t know what the program is all about, though she pointed out that one of them, Jim Abbe, helped the group put together the Blue Ribbon Garden over the past few years at the Steele County Fair. Abbe’s wife is also a member of the group. Abbe made the motion to nix the program.

The fair garden has increased drastically in popularity over the past several years, along with the Master Gardeners booth in the Great Outdoors Center. Both are staffed by gardening volunteers throughout the fair.

Another thing Rugg said most people don’t realize is the how the Master Gardeners make substantial donations of fresh foods to Community Pathways of Steele County, the area’s largest food shelf.

“We’re not just gardeners,” she said. “Our community outreach has increased tremendously.”

Said Nelson: “I feel it’s a lack of total knowledge. I really question what’s the rest of the story with this.” She added that there appears to be more involved than just financial reasons.

Noting the commissioners did nothing to reach out for information about either program, Nelson was a bit blunt about what should have been done. “Do your homework,” she said.

Ryan Lermon, who has served as the agricultural and natural resources educator since 2024, is just as perplexed as everyone else with the county’s decision. “It’s pretty crazy. It caught me off guard,” Lermon said, adding “there are a lot of unknowns.”

He estimated he has “several hundred” contacts throughout the year utilizing his services.

There are 30 educators comparable to Lermon across the state in Minnesota’s 87 counties. Lermon didn’t know for sure but believes Steele County has had an agriculture educator for well over 30 years. It’s up to each county whether they want to fund the position through the U of M.

Lermon said it will be hard for area farmers to not have the resource of a local educator like himself. He said farmers will be forced to travel longer distances to pick key educational programs and workshops offered about agriculture and natural resources throughout the year.

Nelson pointed out how the county’s action goes far beyond gardeners in the area. “The community that prides itself on being an agricultural county. We need to protect the resources we have for the farmers,” she said.

Asked what her next step is, Rugg responded: “Fight.” However, she admitted not knowing exactly how that looks or will play out.

She held an emergency meeting with her advisory board late last week to discuss options moving forward.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there,” she said.