PINEVILLE - They say they could do more if they had more money. That's the general consensus of the UK Cooperative Extension Service agents in Bell County.

"Our proposed budget is $134,000, that would put us up to where we could put up a program comparable to our neighboring counties," said Stacy White, the agriculture and natural resources agent at the office.

Housed in the basement of the Bell County Courthouse, the Extension Service operates on a $77,000 budget appropriated for them annually by the fiscal court.

White said the county helps in other aspects, but the Extension Service in Bell County is still anemic when compared to others.

"They [county] are providing us office space, but we're still not at at a level that we can put on a program that we have the potential to put on in Bell County. We can't provide all the programs to our youth, our seniors and our agricultural producers," said White.

Bell County is the only county in Southeast Kentucky that does not have a special tax specifically earmarked to support the Extension Service.

"Knox County is most comparable to us, as far as the program we need to be putting on and their budget is a little over two times what we have," he said.

The county doesn't foot the entire bill for the Extension Service, however; the University of Kentucky provides the bulk of the funding for the agency including the salaries of the agents.

Recent speculation on the welfare of the UK budget has worried some and the prospects of the possible loss of an agent in Bell County isn't remote.

"Programs will have to be cut back because two people can't do what three people can. Some counties in the state do have two agent counties, but it definitely cuts into the program," said White.

The loss of programming would effect the Extension Office's current operations, which include 4-H and the Bell County Homemakers' Association among others.

The agency's activities aren't always publicized, but Extension Agent Jason Brashear said the 4-H programs will involve approximately 2,200 children this year.

Brashear said the 4-H Program was originally envisioned in the mid 1800s with the development of the land-grand universities.

The universities would be dedicated more toward practical sciences such as agriculture and mechanics than to liberal arts. The new institutions had problems in conveying the latest advancements to farmers who were often hesitant to try new practices and methods. Children were recruited into what eventually became the 4-H Program in an effort to convince their parents to adopt new seeds and methods by encouraging them to grow their own gardens.

Aside from 4-H, Brashear said he also offers an Appalachian heritage club aimed at teaching eighth-graders to be proud of their roots.

White, the Extension Service's agriculture and natural resources agent, specializes in helping landowners make the best use of their natural resources and in educating them on the newest developments in technology and methodology.

"The Extension service is the link to all the research at UK and Kentucky State University. It's a joint thing between those two universities. So any question the producers have dealing with production, management and diseases or pretty much any information they need they can come to this office and link in to it," said White.

The service also keeps farmers abreast on legal changes.

"The biggest thing for our producers in the county is the new animal ID system, which is sparked by the discovery of the Mad Cow Disease. So there is probably going to be new national ID system, which means each animal will probably have to have an electronic ID tag," said White.

Another area of expertise covered by an agent is in families and consumer sciences.

The Bell County Homemakers club has existed since the 1930s and offers the Extension Service a way of educating homemakers in practical application of life skills.

Agent Thelma Pursiful said the Service also supports four other clubs.

"I work with families on various projects," said Pursiful.

"Right now were into this health business, so we've been doing the 'Lets get Moving' exercise program. Right now we have 68 adults enrolled and over 1,200 students in PE classes. This will be repeated when school starts again in August," she said.