2002 Minnesota Statutes

CHAPTER 38. County agricultural societies, fairs, extension service

     38.01 County agricultural societies; formation, powers.  

    An agricultural society or association may be incorporated 
 by citizens of any county, or two or more counties jointly, but 
 only one agricultural society shall be organized in any county.  
 An agricultural society may sue and be sued in its corporate 
 name; may adopt bylaws, rules, and regulations, alter and amend 
 the same; may purchase and hold, lease and control any real or 
 personal property deemed to promote the objects of the society, 
 and may rent, lease, sell, and convey the same.  Any income from 
 the rental or lease of such property may be used for any or all 
 of the following purposes:  (1) Acquisition of additional real 
 property; (2) Construction of additional buildings; or (3) 
 Maintenance and care of the society's property.  This section 
 shall not be construed to preclude the continuance of any 
 agricultural society now existing or the granting of aid thereto.

    An agricultural society shall have jurisdiction and control 
 of the grounds upon which its fairs are held and of the streets 
 and grounds adjacent thereto during such fair, so far as may be 
 necessary for such purpose.  At or before the time of holding 
 any fair, the agricultural society may appoint, in writing, as 
 many persons to act as special constables as necessary, for and 
 during the time of holding the same and for a reasonable time 
 prior and subsequent thereto.  These constables, before entering 
 upon their duties, shall take and subscribe the usual oath of 
 office, endorsed upon their appointment, and have and exercise 
 upon the grounds of the society, and within one-half mile 
 thereof, all the power and authority of constables at common law 
 and, in addition thereto, may, within these limits, without 
 warrant, arrest any person found violating any laws of the 
 state, or any rule, regulation, or bylaw of the society, and 
 summarily remove the persons and property of such offenders from 
 the grounds and take them before any court of competent 
 jurisdiction to be dealt with according to law.  Each such peace 
 officer shall wear an appropriate badge of office while acting 
 as such.  

    As an alternative to the appointment of special constables, 
 the society may contract with the sheriff or local municipality 
 to provide the society with the same police service it may 
 secure by appointing special constables.  A person providing 
 police service pursuant to such a contract is not, by reason of 
 the contract, classified as an employee of the agricultural 
 society for any purpose other than the discharge of powers and 
 duties under the contract.  

    Any person who shall willfully violate any rule or 
 regulation made by such societies during the days of a fair 
 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.  

    The provisions of this section supersede all special laws 
 on the same subject.  

    HIST: (7885) RL s 3097; 1909 c 416 s 1; 1911 c 381 s 5; 1921 c 
 464 s 1; 1923 c 146 s 1; 1923 c 232 s 1; 1937 c 352 s 1; 1955 c 
 618 s 1; 1963 c 408 s 1; 1986 c 444 

  38.011 Repealed, 1955 c 618 s 6 

  38.012 Repealed, 1955 c 618 s 6 

     38.013 Tort liability. 

    Subdivision 1.    General.  Except as provided in 
 subdivision 2, the provisions of chapter 466, regarding tort 
 liability, apply to county agricultural societies organized 
 under this chapter.  

    Subd. 2.    Unpaid board members; liability.  A person 
 who serves without compensation as a member of the board of a 
 county agricultural society created or organized under this 
 chapter is not civilly liable for an act or omission by that 
 person if the act or omission was in good faith, was within the 
 scope of the person's responsibilities as a member of the board, 
 and did not constitute willful or reckless misconduct. 

    This subdivision does not apply to: 

    (1) an action or proceeding brought by the attorney general 
 for a breach of a fiduciary duty by a board member; 

    (2) a cause of action to the extent it is based on federal 
 law; or 

    (3) a cause of action based on a board member's express 
 contractual obligation. 

    This subdivision does not limit the liability of a member 
 of the board for physical injury to the person of another or for 
 wrongful death that is personally and directly caused by the 
 board member. 

    For purposes of this subdivision, the term "compensation" 
 means any thing of value received for services rendered, except: 

    (1) reimbursement for expenses actually incurred; 

    (2) a per diem in an amount not to exceed the per diem 
 authorized for state advisory councils and committees under 
 section 15.059, subdivision 3; or 

    (3) payment by the county agricultural society of insurance 
 premiums on behalf of a member of the board. 

    HIST: 1978 c 659 s 1; 1990 c 555 s 5 

     38.02 Aid, distribution. 

    Subdivision 1.    Pro rata distribution; conditions.  
 (1) Money appropriated to aid county and district agricultural 
 societies and associations shall be distributed among all county 
 and district agricultural societies or associations in the state 
 pro rata, upon condition that each of them has complied with the 
 conditions specified in clause (2). 

    (2) To be eligible to participate in such distribution, 
 each such agricultural society or association (a) shall have 
 held an annual fair for each of the three years last past, 
 unless prevented from doing so because of a calamity or an 
 epidemic declared by the board of health as defined in section 
 145A.02, subdivision 2, or the state commissioner of health to 
 exist; (b) shall have an annual membership of 25 or more; (c) 
 shall have paid out to exhibitors for premiums awarded at the 
 last fair held a sum not less than the amount to be received 
 from the state; (d) shall have published and distributed not 
 less than three weeks before the opening day of the fair a 
 premium list, listing all items or articles on which premiums 
 are offered and the amounts of such premiums and shall have paid 
 premiums pursuant to the amount shown for each article or item 
 to be exhibited; provided that premiums for school exhibits may 
 be advertised in the published premium list by reference to a 
 school premium list prepared and circulated during the preceding 
 school year; and shall have collected all fees charged for 
 entering an exhibit at the time the entry was made and in 
 accordance with schedule of entry fees to be charged as 
 published in the premium list; (e) shall have paid not more than 
 one premium on each article or item exhibited, excluding 
 championship or sweepstake awards, and excluding the payment of 
 open class premium awards to 4H Club exhibits which at this same 
 fair had won a first prize award in regular 4H Club competition; 
 (f) shall have submitted its records and annual report to the 
 commissioner of agriculture on a form provided by the 
 commissioner of agriculture, on or before the first day of 
 November of the current year. 

    (3) All payments authorized under the provisions of this 
 chapter shall be made only upon the presentation by the 
 commissioner of agriculture with the commissioner of finance of 
 a statement of premium allocations.  As used herein the term 
 premium shall mean the cash award paid to an exhibitor for the 
 merit of an exhibit of livestock, livestock products, grains, 
 fruits, flowers, vegetables, articles of domestic science, 
 handicrafts, hobbies, fine arts, and articles made by school 
 pupils, or the cash award paid to the merit winner of events 
 such as 4H Club or Future Farmer Contest, Youth Group Contests, 
 school spelling contests and school current events contests, the 
 award corresponding to the amount offered in the advertised 
 premium list referred to in schedule 2.  Payments of awards for 
 horse races, ball games, musical contests, talent contests, 
 parades, and for amusement features for which admission is 
 charged, are specifically excluded from consideration as 
 premiums within the meaning of that term as used herein.  Upon 
 receipt of the statement by the commissioner of agriculture, it 
 shall be the duty of the commissioner of finance to draw a 
 voucher in favor of the agricultural society or association for 
 the amount to which it is entitled under the provisions of this 
 chapter, which amount shall be computed as follows:  On the 
 first $750 premiums paid by each society or association, such 
 society or association shall receive 100 percent reimbursement; 
 on the second $750 premiums paid, 80 percent; on the third $750 
 premiums paid, 60 percent; and on any sum in excess of $2,250, 
 40 percent. 

    (4) If the total amount of state aid to which the 
 agricultural societies and associations are entitled under the 
 provisions of this chapter exceeds the amount of the 
 appropriation therefor, the amounts to which the societies or 
 associations are entitled shall be prorated so that the total 
 payments by the state will not exceed the appropriation. 

    Subd. 1a.    Premiums for certain livestock and livestock 
 products.  A livestock and livestock product exhibit for 
 which a premium may be paid pursuant to subdivision 1, paragraph 
 3, includes, but is not limited to, livestock exhibited live on 
 the association or society grounds and the carcass of the same 
 animal exhibited later at a place of slaughter off the 
 association or society grounds. 

    Subd. 2.    Accounting; commissioner of agriculture, 
 duties.  It shall be the duty of the commissioner of 
 agriculture to prescribe uniform forms and methods of accounting 
 to be used by agricultural societies, and associations. 

    Subd. 3.    Certification, commissioner of agriculture.  
 Any county or district agricultural society which has held its 
 second annual fair is entitled to share pro rata in the 
 distribution.  The commissioner of agriculture shall certify to 
 the secretary of the state agricultural society, within 30 days 
 after payments have been made, a list of all county or district 
 agricultural societies that have complied with this chapter, and 
 which are entitled to share in the appropriation.  All payments 
 shall be made within three months after the agricultural 
 societies submitted their reports under subdivision 1, clause 
 (2)(f). 

    Subd. 4.    Poultry association or society; premiums aid.  
  A poultry association or society that receives aid in payment 
 of premiums at exhibitions of poultry shall not receive an 
 amount greater than the annual premium paid to exhibitors by it 
 and the amount of aid paid shall not in any case exceed the sum 
 of $150 to any one county.  A society or association to be 
 entitled to its distributive share of aid to poultry 
 associations shall file annually with the commissioner of 
 agriculture by the first day of April of each year a sworn 
 statement signed by the president or secretary of the 
 association or society showing the amount of cash premiums paid 
 during the year to exhibitors.  The amount to be distributed to 
 the society or association from the aid appropriation shall be 
 based and determined upon the amount of cash premiums paid out 
 as hereinbefore provided.  Except as herein provided, where 
 there is more than one association in a county, the amount 
 allotted to the county, not exceeding $150, shall be distributed 
 to the societies in equal amounts. 

    HIST: (7886) RL s 3098; 1911 c 381 s 6; 1913 c 425 s 1; 1915 c 
 243 s 1; 1919 c 138 s 1; 1921 c 452 s 1; 1923 c 301 s 1; 1925 c 
 47 s 1; 1929 c 211 s 1; 1937 c 352 s 2; 1947 c 493 s 1; 1949 c 
 508 s 1; 1951 c 446 s 1-4; 1953 c 69 s 1; 1955 c 618 s 2-4; 1963 
 c 195 s 1; 1963 c 408 s 2; 1967 c 513 s 1; 1973 c 492 s 14; 1976 
 c 163 s 4,5; 1976 c 239 s 14; 1977 c 121 s 2-4; 1977 c 305 s 45; 
 1983 c 300 s 22,23; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 30; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 
 309 s 24 

     38.03 Lease of county lands.  

    The county board of any county may lease to agricultural 
 societies established and existing in its county, for such 
 period and on such terms as it shall deem expedient, any lands 
 of the county, including any portion of lands of the county used 
 as a poor farm, to be used by the society for fair purposes.  
 The society may construct on the leased land, suitable 
 buildings, race tracks, and other improvements; provided, that 
 in case of the leasing by the county board of any county of 
 lands previously set aside as a poor farm, such improvements 
 shall be constructed according to a plan previously submitted to 
 the county board and approved by it.  

    HIST: (7887) RL s 3099; 1915 c 346 s 1; 1955 c 618 s 5 

     38.04 Annual meetings; reports. 

    Every county agricultural society shall hold an annual 
 meeting for the election of officers and the transaction of 
 other business on or before the third Tuesday in November.  
 Service on the county agricultural society board or as an 
 officer of the board is not a public office.  Elected officials 
 of the state or its political subdivisions may serve on the 
 board or be elected as officers. 

    At the annual meeting, the society's secretary shall make a 
 report of its proceedings for the preceding year; this report 
 shall contain a statement of all transactions at its fairs, the 
 numbers of entries, the amount and source of all money received, 
 and the amount paid out for premiums and other purposes, and 
 show in detail its entire receipts and expenditures during the 
 year.  The report must contain a separate accounting of any 
 income received from the operation of horse racing on which 
 pari-mutuel betting is conducted, and of the disposition of that 
 income.  

    The treasurer shall make a comprehensive report of the 
 funds received, paid out, and on hand, and upon whose order 
 paid.  Each secretary shall cause a certified copy of the annual 
 report to be filed with the county recorder of the county and 
 the commissioner of agriculture on or before the first day of 
 November each year. 

    HIST: (7888) RL s 3100; 1911 c 381 s 7; 1919 c 114 s 1; 1947 c 
 493 s 2; 1973 c 492 s 14; 1976 c 181 s 2; 1977 c 121 s 5; 1983 c 
 214 s 32; 1984 c 655 art 1 s 6; 1986 c 444; 1989 c 164 s 1 

     38.05 Right of eminent domain.  

    Every county agricultural society may acquire, by right of 
 eminent domain, such private real property as may be necessary 
 or convenient for the transaction of the public business for 
 which it was formed.  

    HIST: (7888-1) 1921 c 296 s 1 

  38.06 Repealed, 1955 c 618 s 6 

  38.07 Repealed, 1955 c 618 s 6 

  38.08 Repealed, 1955 c 618 s 6 

  38.09 Repealed, 1955 c 618 s 6 

  38.10 Repealed, 1955 c 618 s 6 

  38.11 Repealed, 1955 c 618 s 6 

     38.12 Appropriations by certain municipalities.  

    The council of any city and the board of supervisors of any 
 town having fairs of county and district agricultural societies 
 or associations, who are members of the Minnesota state 
 agricultural society, held within their corporate limits or in 
 close proximity thereto, are hereby authorized and empowered to 
 appropriate for and pay to such agricultural society or 
 association annually a sum not exceeding $1,000.  

    HIST: (7889) 1913 c 546 s 1; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7 

     38.13 Commissioner of agriculture to examine books. 

    All books and affairs of all county agricultural societies 
 or any like societies receiving aid from the appropriation for 
 aid of county agricultural societies shall be subject to 
 examination by the commissioner of agriculture.  Each 
 agricultural society or association shall reimburse the 
 commissioner of agriculture for all expenses of the commissioner 
 incurred in examining the records and accounts of such societies 
 or associations. 

    HIST: (7890) 1913 c 452 s 1; 1973 c 492 s 14; 1977 c 121 s 6 

     38.14 In counties of 150,000:  Appropriations for county 
  fairs.  

    Subdivision 1.    Conditions, procedures, bond.  In any 
 county in this state now or hereafter having a population of 
 150,000, the county board may annually appropriate not to exceed 
 $3,000, except that counties having more than 300,000 and less 
 than 450,000 inhabitants may appropriate not to exceed $5,000, 
 to assist in maintaining a county fair, which fair shall be 
 under the management and control of a county agricultural 
 society.  The appropriation shall be made either to the 
 treasurer of the society or to some other suitable person, but 
 before the money is paid , the treasurer or other person shall 
 file with the county auditor a satisfactory bond in double the 
 sum of the appropriation, conditioned upon the faithful 
 disbursing and accounting for all of the funds so appropriated.  
 The funds so appropriated shall be used solely for the purpose 
 of obtaining, preparing, and arranging exhibits and paying 
 premiums to exhibitors.  The treasurer or other person to whom 
 the appropriation is paid shall, within four months after the 
 holding of any such aided annual fair, file with the county 
 auditor a verified and detailed report showing the name and 
 address of every person to whom any of the money was paid, 
 together with the date of payment, and a full description of the 
 purposes for which the money was so paid, and shall attach 
 thereto receipts and subvouchers for each payment so made and 
 return to the county treasurer all of the unexpended portion 
 thereof.  After the report, receipts, and subvouchers have been 
 audited by the county board and found to be correct, it may, by 
 resolution, release the treasurer or other person and the 
 sureties from all further liabilities under bond. 

    Subd. 2.    Except Ramsey county.  This section and 
 section 38.15 do not apply to Ramsey county. 

    HIST: (737) 1913 c 271 s 1; 1917 c 311 s 1; 1923 c 205; 1951 c 
 218 s 1; 1959 c 173 s 1; 1974 c 435 art 7 s 1; 1986 c 444 

     38.15 Sites and buildings.  

    The county board in any such county may also annually 
 appropriate such further sum as it may desire, not exceeding 
 $7,500, for the purpose of procuring a suitable site and the 
 erection of a suitable county building thereon, for the building 
 or repairing of a race track and for grading and improving the 
 grounds, to be used in connection with such county fair, but the 
 site and the building and improvements shall be and remain the 
 property of the county, and the annual appropriation shall be 
 used only for the purpose of so acquiring the site and building 
 and grading and for the necessary care, repair, maintenance, and 
 upkeep thereof.  In any county in this state now or hereafter 
 having a population in excess of 150,000 and an area of more 
 than 5,000 square miles, the county agricultural society may 
 expend funds appropriated to it for the year 1957 for the 
 payment of debts and liabilities incurred during the year 1956 
 in the construction of county fair buildings, notwithstanding 
 the provisions of Laws 1941, chapter 118. 

    HIST: (738) 1913 c 271 s 2; 1917 c 311 s 2; 1957 c 637 s 1 

     38.16 Exemption from zoning ordinances.  

    When lands lying within the corporate limits of towns or 
 cities of the first or second class of the state are owned by a 
 county and used for agricultural fair purposes, the lands and 
 the buildings now or hereafter erected thereon shall be exempt 
 from the zoning, building, and other ordinances of the town or 
 city; provided, that no license or permit need be obtained from, 
 nor fee paid to, the town or city in connection with the use of 
 the lands.  

    HIST: (738-1) 1927 c 212; 1931 c 166 s 1 

  38.161 Repealed, 1995 c 207 art 9 s 61 

  38.162 Repealed, 1995 c 207 art 9 s 61 

  38.17 Repealed, 1989 c 277 art 2 s 77 

     38.18 County fairgrounds; improvement aided. 

    Any town, statutory city, or school district in this state, 
 now or hereafter having a market value of all its taxable 
 property, exclusive of money and credits, of more than 
 $105,000,000, and having a county fair located within its 
 corporate limits, is hereby authorized to aid in defraying part 
 of the expense of improving any such fairground, by 
 appropriating and paying over to the treasurer of the county 
 owning the fairground such sum of money, not exceeding $10,000, 
 for each of the political subdivisions, as the governing body of 
 the town, statutory city, or school district may, by resolution, 
 determine to be for the best interest of the political 
 subdivision, the sums so appropriated to be used solely for the 
 purpose of aiding in the improvement of the fairground in such 
 manner as the county board of the county shall determine to be 
 for the best interest of the county.  

    HIST: (738-3) 1925 c 321 s 1; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1988 c 719 
 art 5 s 84; 1989 c 329 art 13 s 20; 1990 c 480 art 9 s 1 

     38.19 Expenditure of appropriations.  

    The county board owning any such fairground may expend the 
 funds so appropriated and paid over by any such town, statutory 
 city, or school district for the use of the county, in the same 
 manner as the funds of the county set apart for these purposes 
 may be expended; and may, by resolution, set apart for the use 
 of the town, statutory city, or school district any building, or 
 any portion of the fairground, that may be constructed or 
 otherwise improved with the funds so appropriated and paid over 
 to the county by the town, statutory city, or school district, 
 but the title to the building, or other improvement, shall be 
 and remain the property of the county as part of the fairground 
 property. 

    HIST: (738-4) 1925 c 321 s 2; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7 

     38.20 Supplemental to existing laws.  

    Sections 38.18 to 38.20 shall be supplemental to any 
 existing laws authorizing any town, statutory city, or school 
 district to appropriate funds to aid in the carrying on of any 
 county fair located within the limits of the town, statutory 
 city, or school district, and any town, statutory city, or 
 school district which now has such power shall continue to have 
 such power to make the appropriations to any such county 
 agricultural society as may be authorized by existing laws.  

    HIST: (738-5) 1925 c 321 s 3; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7 

  38.21 Omitted, Local 

  38.22 Omitted, Local 

  38.23 Omitted, Local 

  38.24 Omitted, Local 

  38.25 Omitted, Local 

  38.26 Repealed, 1974 c 435 art 6 s 1 

     38.27 County agricultural societies. 

    Subdivision 1.    Tax levy; powers.  All counties may 
 annually levy a tax upon all property subject to taxation and 
 appropriate and pay over the proceeds of this tax to any county 
 agricultural society of its county which is a member of the 
 state agricultural society, to assist the society in paying its 
 financial obligations and for the construction, reconstruction, 
 alteration, repairs and improvements of necessary buildings.  

    Subd. 2.  Repealed, 1973 c 583 s 37 

    Subd. 3. Repealed, 1989 c 277 art 2 s 77 

    HIST: (738-15) 1927 c 111; 1947 c 97 s 1; 1953 c 514 s 1; 1963 
 c 142 s 1; 1973 c 583 s 4; 1978 c 659 s 2; 1987 c 384 art 2 s 8; 
 1989 c 277 art 2 s 1 

  38.28 Repealed, 1989 c 277 art 2 s 77 

  38.29 Omitted, Local 

  38.30 Omitted, Local 

  38.31 Repealed, 1974 c 435 art 6 s 1 

  38.32 Repealed, 1965 c 45 s 73 

COUNTY EXTENSION

     38.33 Coordination to maintain county extension work. 

    Sections 38.33 to 38.38 coordinate the work of the federal, 
 state, and county government and the Minnesota extension service 
 of the University of Minnesota to maintain county extension work.

    HIST: (6121) 1923 c 423 s 1; 1953 c 202 s 1; 1990 c 376 s 1 

     38.331 Definitions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Application.  In sections 38.33 to 
 38.38, the definitions in this section apply.  

    Subd. 2.    County extension work.  "County extension 
 work" means educational programs and services provided by 
 extension educators in the areas of agriculture; agricultural 
 finance; economic development; nutrition; youth leadership 
 development including 4-H programs; leadership; and environment 
 and natural resources. 

    Subd. 3.    Director of extension.  "Director of 
 extension" means the dean and director of the Minnesota 
 extension service of the University of Minnesota. 

    HIST: 1990 c 376 s 2; 2002 c 373 s 23 

     38.34 County board may pay for extension work. 

    A board of county commissioners may incur expenses and 
 spend money for county extension work as provided in sections 
 38.33 to 38.38.  

    HIST: (6122) 1923 c 423 s 2; 1953 c 202 s 2; 1990 c 376 s 3 

     38.35 State appropriations; how spent. 

    Money appropriated by the state to maintain and pay 
 expenses of county extension work must be spent under the 
 direction of the director of extension, who, acting with the 
 county extension committee, shall carry out sections 38.33 to 
 38.38. 

    HIST: (6124) 1923 c 423 s 4; 1953 c 202 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1990 
 c 376 s 4 

     38.36 County extension committee. 

    Subdivision 1.    Committee composition.  A county must 
 have an extension committee.  The committee must have nine 
 members.  Two members must be county commissioners appointed by 
 the county board.  The county auditor or the auditor's designee 
 must be a member.  If the county has no office of auditor, the 
 county board shall appoint a member from the county 
 administration.  Six members must be appointed at large by the 
 county board as provided in this section.  The county board at 
 its annual meeting shall appoint for a term of three years the 
 number of members required to fill the memberships on that 
 committee expiring at that time.  

    Subd. 2.    Budget recommendations.  In cooperation with 
 the director of extension, or the director's designee, the 
 county extension committee, each year, in accordance with county 
 budgetary deadlines, shall prepare a budget showing the total 
 funds available and needed and shall recommend to the county 
 board the amount of county funds necessary to maintain, support, 
 and pay the expenses of county extension work during the 
 following year.  A copy of the budget must be presented to the 
 county board.  

    Subd. 3.    County appropriations, how spent.  The 
 county board shall consider the recommended county share of 
 money necessary to maintain, support, and pay the expenses of 
 county extension work during the following year.  For these 
 purposes, the county board may appropriate money annually from 
 its general revenue fund and may include the amount of the 
 county's share in the annual levy of county taxes or may make a 
 special levy for county extension purposes or both.  The money 
 set aside and appropriated by the county board for these 
 purposes is the county extension fund.  Money from the fund may 
 be paid out by orders of the director of extension, or the 
 director's designee, to pay a part of the compensation of the 
 agents employed, to pay directly the compensation of county 
 support employees, and to pay other expenses incident to county 
 extension work.  An order to pay money from the fund must not be 
 issued until the expenditure has been audited and signed by the 
 county auditor or other appropriate county official.  A balance 
 in the county extension fund at the end of a year must be 
 carried over or reappropriated.  

    HIST: (6125) 1923 c 423 s 5; 1947 c 157 s 1; 1951 c 390 s 1; 
 1951 c 412 s 1; 1953 c 202 s 4; 1957 c 208 s 1; 1963 c 198 s 1; 
 1969 c 1081 s 1; 1973 c 528 s 1; 1973 c 583 s 5; 1986 c 444; 
 1990 c 376 s 5 

     38.37 County extension committee; program, county agents.

    The county extension committee shall, annually, plan a 
 program of county extension work in cooperation with the 
 Minnesota extension service of the University of Minnesota and 
 the United States Department of Agriculture.  To run the 
 program, the county extension committee, acting with the 
 director of extension, or the director's designee, shall 
 recommend for employment suitable and qualified persons to be 
 known as extension agents.  The extension agents must be 
 employed according to university personnel procedures and must 
 be university employees.  The extension agents shall provide 
 educational programs and services to enhance the quality and 
 productivity of county extension work. 

    HIST: (6126) 1923 c 423 s 6; 1953 c 202 s 5; 1969 c 1081 s 2; 
 1986 c 444; 1990 c 376 s 6 

     38.38 Extension committee; duty, officers, pay. 

    The county extension committee shall encourage all 
 individuals and organizations to cooperate to make profitable 
 use of extension activities.  It shall elect its own chair and 
 vice-chair, who shall serve for one year.  The county auditor, 
 the auditor's designee, or the appointee from the county 
 administration is the secretary of the county extension 
 committee.  The secretary shall keep a record of all its 
 proceedings and shall forward copies of all resolutions of the 
 county board appropriating funds to the director of extension.  
 County commissioners who are members of the committee may 
 receive a per diem under section 375.055, subdivision 1, and may 
 be reimbursed for their necessary expenses, including mileage 
 under section 471.665.  Other committee members may be 
 reimbursed for expenses or may receive a per diem allowance 
 under section 375.47.  

    HIST: (6127) 1923 c 423 s 7; 1953 c 202 s 6; 1957 c 208 s 2; 
 1969 c 1081 s 3; 1975 c 301 s 1; 1986 c 444; 1990 c 376 s 7