ELLICOTTVILLE — The Cornell Cooperative Extension director congratulated Cattaraugus County’s Cooperative Extension organization as it marked its first anniversary with a meeting and open house Monday.
“It’s great to see the re-birthing that is taking place,” Dr. Christopher Watkins, Cornell Cooperative Extension director, said during the open house at the Ellicottville Town Center.
The new Cattaraugus County Cooperative Extension was formed after a joint Cattaraugus and Allegany Cooperative Extension was dissolved in 2015.
“We are a team,” Watkins told more than 100 people who attended the first meeting and open house. Cooperative Extension “is a system that has to move together. It’s always going to be under (financial) pressure,” he said.
These challenges, Watkins added, are also opportunities. For example, while state funding has increased by only $1 million to $4 million in the past 10 years, other income — that raised directly by the Cooperative Extension groups across the state — has increased from $2 million to $43 million.
Half the executive directors — including the new Cattaraugus County executive director, Suzann Cushman — have been appointed in the past five years, Watkins said.
“That’s fresh, new blood in the system,” he said.
Next year, Cooperative Extension will complete work on a strategic plan reframing the future of the more than 100-year-old organization, Watkins said.
It will be a five-year plan covering the years 2018-22. It will focus on how Cooperative Extension maintains “our relevance over the next 10, 20, 40, 100 years,” he added.
While the statewide numbers of 4-H youths have dwindled, the new Cattaraugus County 4-H program is increasing its members and adult volunteers, Watkins noted. The national goal is to have 10 million 4-H members by 2025, he said.
By focusing on moving forward together, Watkins said, “Only a team approach to address challenges and capitalize on our opportunities will work.”
Diane Clayson, the county Cooperative Extension president, said, “It’s been an exciting year. I’m honored to be the first president of the new Cattaraugus County Cooperative Extension.” She said she is proud of the growth the group is experiencing, adding, “It’s just been fantastic.”
“It’s been an incredible effort by the board and volunteers,” Cushman said.
In 2015, there were 279 4-H members in the county. That increased to 343 in 2016 and is expected to go higher in 2017, she said. There are 17 4-H clubs, an increase of one with a new Alpaca group. There were 28 adult volunteers in 2015 and 71 in 2016.
At the Cattaraugus County Fair, there were 400 exhibits in the 4-H Facility and 400 animals exhibited, up 20 percent from 2015. More than 250 4-H members participated and shared $6,000 in prize money.
4-H members had 100 exhibits at the State Fair, she said. Fifty 4-H members went to the fair to show their animals.
The market class animal auction, Cushman said, raised $128,000 for the participating 4-H members.
Cushman and Clayson both thanked county lawmakers for increasing the group’s budget to allow for some staff and program growth.
Cushman said a successful craft night on the second Thursday of each month at the Ellicottville office will continue and be expanded to Olean next year.
One of the programs of which Cushman is most proud is the Career Explorations program at Cornell University. Cattaraugus County sent the third-largest delegation in the state last year, she said.
The Cooperative Extension is continuing its Master Gardener series next year, she said. The vegetable program and grape programs also will continue.
“There’s a lot of active research on Cattaraugus County farms,” she said.
At the annual meeting, three new members were elected: Norman Marsh, Stephanie Carter and Don Telaak. They succeeded Nan Miller, Nell Fellows and Karla Hanft, who agreed last year to serve one-year terms.