Moving is always a daunting task, so there always seems to be a sigh of relief once the job is accomplished. That’s where the ladies at the Wright County branch of ISU Extension and Outreach are currently. They are just settling into their new home at 2302 Madison Ave on the south side of Clarion.
Local Extension Office Manager Kelly Grandgeorge says they were not necessarily planning for a move before the idea was presented to them. When Knute Severson acquired the building that was formerly Illinois Foundation Seeds just past the hospital, he floated the suggestion to the Extension staff. The idea had merit. Grandgeorge says that they had started to outgrow their space across from the ambulance shed. Parking had also dwindled through the years as well.
So this started a long process of contemplating and asking questions for the Extension staff. The plan to move first had to be approved by the Extension Council, their governing body. In September, the council gave the local office the greenlight to move.
This would be no small task explained the ladies at the office. They got started sorting and cleaning back in October. Grandgeorge said they had accumulated a lot of stuff over the years. Their attic was a treasure trove of items, including several boxes of 4-H historian books. County Youth Coordinator Emily Zahurones said they worked to distribute the books to museums and other places of historical value throughout almost every town in the county.
The ladies add that as they were working on preparing for the move, their new future home was also getting some work. Renovations included adding office space and storage.
Just a few weeks ago, the office was ready for their big move. They closed for a few days at the beginning of March and officially set up shop in the new building on Madison Ave.
Now, they are back open for regular business and enjoying the new locale. All the staff agrees that the new digs offer advantages. Regional Director Sarah Merrifield said that in addition to more parking space, they also can accommodate larger programs with their two meeting spaces. Program Coordinator Missy Loux said that the large space is particularly useful in a time where social distancing is still a priority. Zahurones agreed, noting that she is excited to be able to accommodate more Clover Kids participants, which she says is a growing program.
As they look forward, the staff is excited about things to come. Loux emphasized that next month includes ISU Extension and Outreach Week from April 11-17. The office will even offer a virtual tour of their new space during that week. Look for more about the events of that week in the Monitor coming up.
Loux added that they hope to offer even more programming once COVID is less of a concern. For now, they are open for regular business. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. They can also be reached at 515-532-3453.
