Currently 761 people are members of 4-H in OTC

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

County board members, in late June, heard an update on the Otter Tail County 4-H program, highlighting programming and membership.  

“4-H inspires youth to become leaders and is committed to empowering youth,” noted Regional Director Cecelia Amadou.

  There are four focused areas of 4-H education: 

• Agriculture and animal science which educates youth about the importance of agriculture

• Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) which builds scientific thinking skills and career enthusiasm in youth

• Leadership and civic engagement which helps youth give back to their communities and rural areas, along with practicin critical leadership skills

• Healthy living that empowers youth with skills, living healthy and happy lives. 

Currently, there are 761 4-H members in Otter Tail County. Membership has increased by 19 percent in recent years with 215 new members. Of those new members, 128 are first generation 4-H members. 

Solid waste consulting

A motion by County Commissioner Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids and seconded by Commissioner Dan Bucholz of Perham was unanimously carried to authorize appropriate county officials’ signatures to approve an agreement between Otter Tail County and Twin Cities-based Foth Infrastructure and Environment.

This will allow for professional services for solid waste management consulting for the Otter Tail County Solid Waste Department including the Henning Transfer Station and Demolition Landfill. 

Broadband update

Otter Tail County Community Development Director Amy Baldwin provided updates to county board members on the county’s progress with Minnesota’s Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program.

This grant program is focused on providing financial resources to allow providers to invest in building broadband infrastructure into unserved and underserved areas of the state. 

Staff are working with Otter Tail County providers to refine applications for this grant which are due Aug. 4, 2022. Additionally, a funding opportunity through Sanford Health has been identified that could further support the broadband projects.