District Governing Body
On July 1, 2014 - the Marais des Cygnes Extension District #16 was formed by merging the Miami County Extension Council and the Linn County Extension Council.
In 1991, the Kansas Legislature passed an act permitting two or more county extension councils to form a district to deliver the extension program. In 1994 the first district in the state was formed. With the formation of the Marais des Cygnes District, there are now sixteen extension districts involving 45 counties in Kansas.
The Marais des Cygnes Extension District relies on strong local governance.
- Each county in the district is represented by four district governing body members.
- The initial eight board members were appointed by the county commissioners and will be elected, in the future, in an election that is conducted by the election officer or county clerk in each county.
- The District Governing Body, in partnership with the Area Extension Director, is responsible for leading the educational program and developing and approving the budget
District Board Members: Chair: Jennifer Haley, Vice-Chair: Alan Billesbach, Secretary: Janet Reynolds, Treasurer: Debbie Wakefield, Treva Broyles, Lisa Wilson, Laura Davids & Kitty Rhynerson
The district governing body organizes annually by electing from among its members a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, and treasurer.
The governing body is responsible for planning and conducting the district's educational program. The governing body appoints program development committees to plan educational programs based on extension work in agricultural pursuits, in family and consumer sciences work, in 4-H Youth Development work and in economic development initiatives. Each program development committee consists of at least six members from each county. An elected member of the governing body serves as chair of each program development committee.
