Lake County seeks new members for Extension Committee

Lake County is looking for a couple of new members for its Extension Committee, a volunteer role that helps shape 4-H, youth and community education in the county. The open seats matter because the committee helps keep Extension programming tied to what local families, landowners, and young people actually need.

The county is inviting interested residents to apply by filling out an application. People with experience in youth development, agriculture, family support, local food and gardening education, or broader community outreach are the best fit for a committee that is meant to reflect Lake County’s rural and small-town needs. When those seats sit empty, the county risks losing some of that local perspective in decisions that affect educational services and outreach.

Lake County’s Extension Committee Membership page says County Extension Committees were established by the Minnesota State Legislature in 1923. It also says the 2002 Minnesota County Extension Law is outlined in Minnesota Statutes 38.33 through 38.38, underscoring that the committee is part of a long-running state-county structure, not a ceremonial volunteer group.

The county’s Extension/4-H office in Two Harbors is the local point of contact for residents who want more information. The office is at 616 3rd Ave, Two Harbors, MN 55616, and it is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tracey Turner, the 4-H Coordinator, can be reached at (218) 834-8379, and Dawn Erickson, the Office Support Specialist, can be reached at (218) 834-8530. The county also lists those staff contacts as a way to ask about the committee and related programs.

Lake County’s Extension/4-H page points residents to Lake County 4-H, the Lake County After School Club, and information on how to become a Lake County Extension Committee member. That puts the committee alongside the county’s youth and family programming, where local input can help decide which educational efforts get attention and resources.

University of Minnesota Extension describes advisory committees as part of Extension leadership, which fits the role Lake County is trying to fill. For residents who want to influence county education work without running for office, the committee offers a direct way to help guide services that reach children, families, and other residents across Lake County.