TO: Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
FROM: Kylie Yanchula, Natural Resources Director
DATE: December 22, 2025
SUBJECT: UF/IFAS Extension 4-H Agent Recommendation for Hire and Future Staff Approvals
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BACKGROUND
Florida Statute Section 1004.37 establishes county or area extension programs as a cooperative effort between counties and the Florida Cooperative Extension Service (Extension), administered through the University of Florida (UF). This statute provides the regulatory framework for collaboration between counties and Extension. Under this framework, county extension agents are jointly employed by state universities and federal and county governments for the purposes of administration of the extension service, with personnel policies and procedures of the University of Florida applying except in those instances when federal legislation or the basic Memorandum of Understanding is applicable.
In Indian River County, the Extension Office operates under the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). The office currently includes three extension faculty positions-Director, Extension Agent (4-H), and Extension Agent (Horticulture)-supported by a County Staff Assistant II. The relationship between the County and Extension is further defined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) adopted by the Board on October 19, 2004, titled “Memorandum of Understanding between Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida and The Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County, Florida.” Both the statute and the MOU require that the Board approve or disapprove individuals recommended for extension posit...
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