Harlan, IA – Six Shelby County residents were elected to the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Shelby County Council in the Nov. 6 general election. They are: Elaine Baughman, Kirkman, Gwen Hansen, Kirkman, Renee Hansen, Harlan, Lorie Knudsen, Harlan, Jana Schmitz, Harlan and Klare Veath, Elk Horn. Current members of the county extension council who were re-elected to four-year terms are Baughman, R. Hansen and Knudsen.  New members who joined the council in January are Schmitz and Veath. In addition to the four candidates elected to four-year terms, Gwen Hansen was elected to a two-year term to complete an unexpired term.

Photo: Front L-R: Elaine Baughman, Kathy Fara, Renee Hansen
Back L-R: Jana Schmitz, Julie Klein, Klare Veath, Lorie Knudsen, Gwen Hansen.

Carryover county extension council members whose terms expire at the end of 2020 are Kathy Fara, Irwin, Julie Klein, Harlan and Michele Monson, Irwin. The new members will replace Jo Kenkel, Defiance, Ellen Walsh-Rosmann, Westphalia, and Sheila Rhiner, Shelby.

Officer elections were held at the January 8th Extension Council meeting.  Current officers are: Chairperson: Julie Klein Vice-Chairperson: Michele Monson   Secretary: Lorie Knudsen Treasurer: Elaine Baughman.  Other committee appointments: Regional Council: Julie Klein and Klare Veath, Iowa Extension Council Association Liason: Gwen Hansen.

The extension council is the county’s governing body of ISU Extension and Outreach. Extension council members hire county staff, manage the county extension budget and help determine programming, said Julie Klein ISU Extension and Outreach Shelby County council chairperson. The county extension office is located at 906 6th Street Harlan. Learn more at www.extension.iastate.edu/shelby.

Elected council members and offices in every county uniquely position ISU Extension and Outreach to move the state forward. Last year more than 1 million people directly benefited from ISU Extension and Outreach programs. These programs help citizens solve critical issues affecting their lives. ISU Extension and Outreach and county extension councils together are building a strong Iowa.