MARSHALL — An educator position at the Lyon County Extension office could potentially be cut for budgetary reasons, Lyon County commissioners said this week.

After hearing an update on Extension activities at Tuesday’s commissioner meeting, Commissioner Gary Crowley told Youth Development Educator Renae Jenniges it was possible that the county might have to cut her position.

“We may have to cut your program position for the coming year because of our finances,” Crowley said. “Now, we don’t know that for sure, but it is on the radar, and I just want to give you a heads-up that could happen.”

Crowley said if cuts were made, Jenniges would be notified by the end of the year.

Lyon County levy and budget increases for 2026 have been a concern for commissioners. In budget discussions this fall, Lyon County Administrator Loren Stomberg said the county would be losing about $40,000 in state aid funding, and was also anticipating less rental income from office space in the county government center. At the same time, Stomberg said he was anticipating higher budget costs for Southwest Health and Human Services and for the county’s health insurance.

In September, commissioners approved a 9.9% preliminary levy increase for 2026. Before that, Stomberg and commissioners had discussed the possibility of an “unprecedented” double-digit levy increase.

The 9.9% preliminary levy increase could still possibly be reduced before commissioners set a final 2026 budget and levy.

At Tuesday’s commissioner meeting, commissioners heard an update on Extension activities from Jenniges and fellow 4-H Youth Development Educator Sam Jens as well as Extension Regional Director Ann Orren. Jens said that 4-H programs reached a total of 1,088 youth in Lyon County in the past year.

“That is roughly 22%, or just over 22%, of the youth that are 4-H age in Lyon County that we are reaching,” Jens said.

Jenniges said she was working to grow partnerships between Extension youth programs and the Minneota community and schools.

“I had the opportunity to provide programming for community education in Minneota,” Jenniges said. That programming included a youth baking class, and summer arts programs.

“Another partnership I was able to start last year was with the Marshall High School and SMSU, with their Upward Bound program. That program is primarily first-generation youth graduating from high school and going on to college,” Jenniges said. She said she was able to help them build a youth leadership council. “Along with that partnership, we provided Career Connections, so providing them some career conversation guest speakers, along with, we hosted a financial literacy event last spring.”

The financial literacy event was done in partnership with Extension educators in Yellow Medicine and Nobles counties, as well as Upward Bound, she said.

“A couple things I want to highlight with my programming over this past year, one of them is I received a grant from the Marshall Community Foundation to purchase some drones,” Jens said. “So I’ve been doing drone programming across the county, to expose youth to how to fly drones — and not only fly drones, but code drones.”

Other youth programs Jens has been teaching this year have included a healthy cooking skills challenge, and career exploration classes in areas like auto mechanics. Starting in November, Jens will also be working with a group of home-school students on a robotics program.