Author: Gregory Drake
Planning Unit: Butler County CES
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR
Plan of Work: Butler County Rural Development Program
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
The Butler County Rural Development organization has a rich history of success. It is part of community culture and continues to be seen as an important driver for community development by extension leaders. There are currently 5 rural development clubs that operate community centers and hold regular educational programs for their members. The Rural Development Program in Butler County has beef functioning for 67 consecutive years. Clubs that have monthly meetings. Average attendance at these meetings is 20-25. Each of the 5 rural development clubs has a community building that they maintain. These buildings are used for a wide variety of activities each year. Educational programs are presented at each monthly meeting. The topics of these programs are determined by the membership, and club members secure presenters. Each club has elected leadership.. At the 2025 Annual Meeting cub presidents reported raising over $20,000 to support themselves and community organizations. This year the clubs have improved their community centers, held road-side clean up projects, sent children to 4-H camp, financially supported local fire departments, support cancer research and families dealing with cancer, maintained cemeteries, provided hundreds of meals for the needy, and organized many other beneficial activities. Rural Development Club Leaders are some of the most active in our community. This year’s annual meeting was attended by 75 people. This program is currently developing its third generation of community leaders.
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