Madison County Extension Board

February 17, 2026

Madison County Extension Board meeting was held in person at the extension office in Norfolk, NE. This meeting was duly and properly advertised with open meeting laws posted. Lori called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm. 

Roll call with advocacy count is as follows: Amanda – 9, Keith – , Janell – 10, Donna – 3, Lori – 4, Robert – 11, Lynn – 6.  Also attending were Erin, Wayne, Sarah, and Jayd. 

Minutes from December 9, 2025, meeting were reviewed and approved on a motion by Donna, seconded by Amanda. All present approved the minutes.

The financial claims report and statements were attached and reviewed by the board members. Donna made a motion to approve the claims with Lynn seconding. All approved the claims. 

There was no old business to discuss at the meeting.

On new business, Sarah gave an update on the NACEB trip. During the trip we could not get a meeting time with Senator Dover for his busy schedule that day but had very good representation for the role extension has in the state. Two new computers were purchased for Pam and Leo. Prices increased significantly from last year and are over $3,000 each for a new Dell computer. The 2026-27 budget committee and date will be approved in the April meeting as the county wants it done by May. Meeting is tentatively set for March 10 at 6pm. The commissioner update meeting is scheduled for April 7^th. Extension is looking for summer intern again this year. Ideal candidate will be at least 18 years old and looking for full-time employment from May to August. There were a number of board members that had someone in mind for the position and would reach out to them. 

Highlighted staff reports were attached. Erin gave us an update on her CHIME research concluding. Wayne has a full schedule ahead with Chemigation and pesticide application training. Sarah highlighted some of her 4-H school enrichment activities and was able to attend the Joint Council of Extension Professionals event in Savannah, GA. Jayd gave us an update on some of the activities she did during January and February including the after school program in Madison, “Where does pizza come from?” and helped judge the Norfolk FFA Science posters. 

Amanda made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Rob at 6:45 pm. The next meeting will be held April 21, 2026, at 6:00pm at the Extension Office in Norfolk. 

Submitted by,

Rob Thomas

April 21, 2026

Madison County Extension Board meeting was held in person at the extension office in Norfolk, NE. This meeting was duly and properly advertised with open meeting laws posted. Lori called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm. 

Roll call with advocacy count is as follows: Amanda – 20, Keith – , Janell – 15, Donna – 10, Lori – 5, Robert – 15, Lynn – 4.  Also attending were Amy, Jayd, Sarah, and Leo.

Minutes from February 17, 2026, meeting were reviewed and approved on a motion by Lynn, seconded by Amanda. All present approved the minutes.

The financial claims report and statements were attached and reviewed by the board members. Amanda made a motion to approve the claims with Lynn seconding. All approved the claims. 

On old business, 2 new computers were purchased for staff. In the 2026-27 budget there is an increase in wages. The commissioner meeting went well, and Extension is appreciated for all the work they do in the county and surrounding area. There will be 2 summer interns to help with the fair, the garden and nutrition. 

A motion to accept the proposed budget for 2026-27 was made by Janelle and seconded by Amanda with all present approving the budget.

On new business, board members reviewed the 4-H Council budget, and a motion was made by Amanda to approve with Rob seconding and all approving the proposed budget. Three board members have their first term expiring at the end of 2026. Donna Miller, Rob Thomas, and Lynn Walmsley all planned on returning for a second term. 

Highlighted staff reports were attached. Sarah and Jayd described their embryology project in the classroom and summer workshop plans. Leo went to Washington DC with 4 students, and he had ten students who are recipients for the Buffet Scholarship. Amy talked about the NACEB summer meeting on June 20^th and shared a website resource for information about Nebraska 

Lynn made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Donna at 6:55 pm. The next meeting will be held June 16, 2026, at 6:00pm at the Extension Office in Norfolk. 

Submitted by,

Rob Thomas

June 16, 2026

The Madison County Extension Board meeting was held in person at the extension office in Norfolk, NE. This meeting was duly and properly advertised with open meeting laws posted.  Lori called the meeting to order at 6:06pm. 

Roll call with advocacy count is as follows: Amanda-5, Keith- 5, Janell-20, Donna-11, Lori-6, Robert-excused, Lynn-excused.  Also attending were Wayne, Leo, & Sarah. 

Minutes from the April 21, 2026 meeting were reviewed.  Donna moved to approve the minutes.  Keith seconded the motion.  All present approved the minutes.

The financial claims report and statements were attached and reviewed by the board members.  Donna moved to approve the claims and Janell seconded the motion.  All approved the claims by roll call.

The only Old Business brought up was a reminder that Donna, Rob, & Lynn have agreed to be on the board for another 3-year term beginning in January.

For new business, the budget for the next fiscal year was approved by the extension board and submitted before guidance had been given by the county commissioners.  Wayne noted that the suggestions from the county commissioners included that there be “no more than a total of 3% increase on staffing as a whole”.  The 2026-2027 budget has not yet been approved.

Wayne recently attended an extension training to discuss new regulations to incorporate into extension meetings.  These regulations included:

1 - A requirement of having unofficial minutes from meetings be completed and available to the public within 10 days of the meeting.  Once approved, they must be available to the public for the next 6 months.

2- All agendas must include a time set for “public comments” that allows members of the public to speak openly if they wish.

3 – The Open Meeting Laws sign must be physically posted in the meeting area.

Members were encouraged to research and email suggestions to Wayne prior to the next extension meeting so that the board can have rules for the public to follow if they wish to add comments to regularly scheduled extension meetings.

Highlighted staff reports were given.  Congratulations to Jayd and her husband in welcoming their new baby boy into their family. Erin is currently at an event in Kearney. Wayne is working with NUtech Ventures to make his Soybean Defoliation Tabletop Exercise an official product and is spending up to 1 day per week working on the Growing Together Nebraska Garden (funded by SNAP-Ed).  Leo is busy with RYLAT and working with UNMC for an exciting new program to encourage young people to prepare for jobs in health care fields.  Sarah discussed STEM Foundation Training for the state of Nebraska, summer programming events, and prep work for the County Fair.

Amanda moved to adjourn the meeting and Janell seconded the motion.  The meeting was adjourned at 6:56pm.

Minutes were submitted by Amanda Hafer filling in for Extension Board Secretary, Robert Thomas

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