By Scott Harvey
Commerce – The City of Commerce last night threw its support behind a recent appeal made by Hunt County Judge John Horn regarding the elimination of a position with the County's AgriLife Extension Program.
They join a growing list of area entities voicing their concern over the potential job loss.
Texas AgriLife Extension Service has announced plans to eliminate the position of a 4-H Agent, effective Oct 31.
While he understands the state's need to cut its budget, Judge Horn feels this is the wrong place to do it, and hopes the reallocation of remaining agents will not suffer from the position cut.
"AgriLife Extension has reemphasized the program will still be in effect, it is just the agent position that has been eliminated," Horn said. "That seems to be somewhat indicative of, 'hey we're going to give you an airplane we just don't have a pilot to fly it.'"
The 4-H program has served as an important tool in the area for over 50 years and currently serves over 200 individuals, plus has a vast indirect impact.
"My argument, very simply, is programs that have a direct impact on the youth of our community that are lifestyle incentive programs that have a direct benefit to the residents in our community need to be preserved, and need to be sanctified, and they don't need to be sacrificed," said Horn.
Horn also feels there could have been more discussion among the State and County prior to AgriLife's decision.
Hunt County will attempt to garner enough support in hopes that the State will recognize the need to keep the position, and rescind its decision.