Any county official or employee is hereby authorized to become associated and to participate as a member in any voluntary state association or organization, in the discretion of the county court, from which benefits commensurate with the expense will be derived by the county. The county court is authorized to expend funds for such purpose and to reimburse such person or persons for the actual amount expended by for food and lodging while in attendance at meetings of such associations, within this state, with mileage not to exceed the rate of 10¢ per mile, to be computed according to the distance by the nearest practicable route for travel to and from such meeting.