Cass County Board: 4-H participation down at Cass County Fair

   FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP — Brooke Remer, 4-H extension educator, presented an update of the 2021 4-H program at the Tuesday, Sept. 21 county board meeting.

   Remer shared the results of the 2021 Cass County Fair, stating that a total of 43 4-H youth and two 4-H clubs exhibited with 299 entries. It was mentioned that this is a decrease in participation over previous years, but is expected due to effects of COVID. Some of the categories represented at the county fair were horse, poultry, rabbit, and general livestock and a general category which included technical exhibits, arts and crafts and photography. 

   Area 4-H youth also were able to participate in a local sheep show and dog show during 2021. The sheep show had six youth participate with  a total of 26 different exhibit entries. The dog show was a joint venture between Cass, Crow Wing, Beltrami and Wadena Counties. A total of eight youth participated with a total of 25 different exhibit entries. 

   With the return of the State Fair this year, Cass County had nine entries in livestock and five entries for general, with youth receiving various ribbons for their entries. Also, Cass County sent six youth to the state horse show, held Sept. 17 - 20, and four youth to the state dog show, held Sept. 25 - 26.

   Remer also shared plans for growing the program by creating a welcome packet and sending a series of communications in order to recruit new members. Also, plans are being developed to create partnerships with area schools to establish after-school programs beginning in January 2022.

   Chief Financial Officer, Sandra Norikane presented an update on the American Rescue Plan Act grant activity and requested approval of $60,747 from the Home Health and Learning category and a total of $164,000 in direct cash assistance. This amount would deplete the direct cash assistance category to a remaining balance of $10,000. Therefore, Norikane requested the board pause the program until 2022 and ask the citizens budget committee for input on possibly allocating additional money that has been set aside. It was also mentioned, currently there are additional application requests exceeding the remaining $10,000 balance. With the recommended pause approved by the board, those businesses will be informed that the money has been depleted, but will remain on a waiting list and will be considered first if the board decides to allocate more money to the direct cash assistance category.

   In other business, the county board:

   • Awarded a contract to Kern & Tabery, Inc in the amount of $1,815,719.81 for muck excavation, grading, culverts and aggregate base for the beginning phase of a project on County Road 103.

   • Heard an update on the multi-use recreational trail Cass County helped fund, with Marla Yoho Fairview Clerk/Treasurer, sharing the 4.1 mile segment the county gave $180,000 towards is complete and a ribbon cutting is scheduled for Oct. 6. It was also mentioned there is still one more segment needing to be constructed, but the cost is going to be considerably more than anticipated due to the numerous hills. Yoho stated a grant was being applied for through the state for the amount of $2.3 million.

   The next meetings are as follows: commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker, Cass County Association of Townships Fall Conference, 9:10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 7 via ZOOM meeting and commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19 at the Land Department Meeting Room in Backus.