By Tim Sturrock Tribune staff writer

There was still a smell of fresh paint, and the sound of power drills Friday as the new University of Minnesota Extension Service regional center set up shop in its new home near Highway 65.

It opened Jan. 5, after Extension decided that with decreasing commitments from counties in financial straits, forming 18 regional centers would let them maintain stability in their programs.

The change won’t have a huge impact on classes being taught in Freeborn County and surrounding counties, said Jeanne Markell, associate director of Extension. But individual attention to farmers won’t be as available in counties that haven’t hired agricultural educators. Availability for 4-H also decreased in counties that haven’t hired 4-H coordinators.

Freeborn County commissioners voted to pay for 4-H coordinators but not an agriculture educator. Eighty-four of the counties have funded 4-H positions and 49 have agriculture, food and environment positions.

The situation gives counties the choice and the hope is that as the new system moves along, more counties will see the need and importance of paying for more educators, she said.

More interactive learning through the Internet is something they’re expanding, Markell said. She called it a launchpad for things to come. The plan is as more farmers become Internet savvy, they’ll have more opportunities to learn online.

(Contact Tim Sturrock at tim.sturrock@albertleatribune.com or at 379-3438.)