AgriProspects Mini-Grants Launched to Address Extension Adult Workforce Development Needs in the Agricultural Sector

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The AgriProspects Workforce Development Network, a collaborative effort of the Extension Foundation (EXF), the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) Economic & Workforce Development Program Action Team (Workforce PAT) and USDA-NIFA, aims to bolster the Extension system’s capacity to meet the evolving workforce demands within the food and agriculture sector.

To further its mission, AgriProspects is seeking proposals for Round 1 of its Mini-grant Program. Round 1 Mini-grants are aimed at developing adult, ag sector focused workforce development capacity within the Cooperative Extension System. From cross-region and cross-institution collaboration to expanding the good work already underway, almost anything is on the table!

All Land-Grant Colleges & Universities, regardless of membership status with the Extension Foundation, are invited to apply for mini-grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 for projects spanning up to two years. A Land-Grant College or University must be the lead applicant. Successful applicants will receive support from AgriProspects Coordinators and access to translation services for project materials as appropriate.

The initiative is divided into three funding rounds spanning two years each, starting from September 2024. Future rounds will adapt to address emerging needs in the agricultural workforce, so while applicants may plan multi-phase projects, funding in earlier rounds does not guarantee funding in subsequent ones.

Help shape the future of Extension’s adult workforce development efforts! Visit agriprospects.extension.org to learn more about AgriProspects and how to apply for Round 1 mini-grants.

AgriProspects is supported through a cooperative agreement between the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Extension Foundation under the AFRI Education and Workforce Development Competitive Grant 2023-67037-40533.

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EDEN Marketing and Communications Coordinator Position Available (Remote)

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THIS POSITION IS NOW FILLED

Summary:

Join our team as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator, a pivotal role supporting the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). This 12-month contract position offers a dynamic opportunity to lead and shape EDEN’s branding and marketing initiatives.

Application Due Date: Open until filled.

Application Link: https://registry.extension.org/241215416755151

Contact: Fred Schlutt, fredschlutt@extension.org

Position Available: EDEN Marketing and Communications Coordinator (Remote)

Time Frame: 12-month contract with potential for renewal up to four years. Support for this contract is made available through the Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative Extension Disaster Education Network (grant no. 2023-37623-40794 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture).

Full Position Description

The Extension Disaster Education Network seeks a Marketing and Communications Coordinator who can pivotally coordinate relevant content from the EDEN network while crafting and disseminating messaging to target audiences, with the goal of expanding the reach of impactful disaster education.

This contract will be responsible for the following:

  • Conduct a comprehensive audit of all EDEN communication and marketing activities, web presence, and social media platforms to identify strengths and areas for growth.
  • Assess existing branding materials and collaborate with the EDEN committee to implement impactful changes.
  • Develop a strategic marketing and communication plan leveraging Extension Foundation technologies to amplify EDEN’s outreach and engagement.
  • Strategically select and manage social media channels to foster meaningful interaction within the EDEN community.
  • Analyze website traffic and messaging effectiveness, setting clear goals for improvement and implementing targeted strategies.
  • Monitor media presence and devise plans to expand EDEN’s coverage and accessibility.
  • Use the Google Ad Grant and other paid advertising avenues to effectively promote EDEN resources.
  • Enhance EDEN’s branding materials in coordination with the EDEN Committee and Extension Foundation Communication & Marketing Team.
  • Establish a streamlined process for gathering content from the EDEN network to develop compelling marketing materials.
  • Manage regular email marketing updates and maintain the CRM database to support EDEN program efforts.
  • Provide technical support for virtual learning initiatives and participant communication.
  • Act as a community administrator for Connect Extension, ensuring smooth account and content management.

Requirements:

  • A tech-savvy communication professional capable of quickly mastering new technology systems.
  • Exceptional writing skills, spanning from concise ad copy to engaging feature writing.
  • Proficiency in customer relationship management technologies such as Hubspot and Salesforce.
  • Experience managing multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
  • Basic graphic design skills using platforms like Adobe or Canva.
  • Familiarity with Google Suite and web-based communication practices.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
  • Availability for special events and occasional travel with a valid driver’s license.
  • Access to reliable technology and connectivity for remote work.
  • Preferred experience in emergency response and planning.

Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field.
  • Minimum three years of experience in the communication or marketing field.

Physical Requirements:

  • Work is typically conducted in an office environment with minimal physical risk or effort.
  • Availability for occasional in-state and out-of-state travel as required.
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Extension Foundation Celebrates a Year of Achievement and Growth in 2023

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The Extension Foundation proudly announces the successful culmination of its endeavors in 2023, marking a year of significant accomplishments and strategic advancements in collaboration with the Cooperative Extension System (CES). The annual report is available on the Extension Foundation website at this link.

Throughout the year, the Extension Foundation reinforced its commitment to supporting the CES by enhancing infrastructure and expanding capacity to manage larger grant awards on behalf of the Cooperative Extension System. These efforts solidify the Foundation’s ability to provide crucial assistance for national funded programs, ensuring impactful outcomes for communities across the nation.

Key leadership transitions underscored the Foundation’s dedication to excellence. Following the retirement of Dr. Christine Nygren, Dr. Beverly Coberly assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer after a national search led by Dr. Fred Schlutt. Additionally, Mrs. Ashley Griffin, a seasoned Extension Foundation staff member, was appointed as Chief Operating Officer, further strengthening the organization’s leadership team.

In 2023, the Extension Foundation expanded its portfolio of national funded programs, managing a total portfolio of $63M on behalf of the system:

  • AgriProspects: A $10M program aimed at optimizing connections between demand and supply in the agricultural workforce. The program will establish a sustainable national network and provide mini-grants for workforce development projects.
  • Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching & Engagement (EXCITE): Significantly advancing adult immunization initiatives, reaching millions of citizens and establishing pilot projects to enhance vaccine confidence and uptake in rural areas.
  • New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE): Incubating and accelerating projects to increase the impact of Cooperative Extension, resulting in the funding of 36 projects spanning various focus areas and universities.
  • Pesticide Safety Education Funds Management Program: Securing a cooperative agreement with the EPA to support pesticide safety education programs across 52 Land-grant universities.

The Extension Foundation extends its appreciation to all partners, stakeholders, and Cooperative Extension professionals for their support and collaboration in advancing its mission.

For more information about the Extension Foundation and its initiatives, visit www.extension.org

About the Extension Foundation:

The Extension Foundation was formed in 2006 by Extension Directors and Administrators. Today, the Foundation partners with Cooperative Extension through liaison roles and a formal plan of work with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) to increase system capacity while providing programmatic services, and helping Extension programs scale and investigate new methods and models for implementing programs. The Foundation provides professional development to Cooperative Extension professionals and offers exclusive services to its members.

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Vacancy Announcement Executive Director, Association of Southern Region Extension Directors (ASRED)

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The Executive Director of ASRED provides administrative and staff level support for association business,  programs, and activities; facilitates programmatic cooperation and coordination among the member  states; and fosters the linkages, partnerships, and collaborative arrangements necessary to place the  member states in the strongest position possible to ensure success at the state, regional and national  levels. The Office of the Executive Director is charged with promoting the collaborative work of the  Southern Region Program Leadership Network as a mechanism to strengthen Extension programming on  a multi-state and regional level. In addition, the Executive Director devotes 25% FTE as a member of the  national Extension Director/Administrator team in support of the national work of ECOP and the  Cooperative Extension section of the APLU Board on Agriculture.  

General Duties and Responsibilities 

  • Provide direct staff support for the ASRED Chair and for committees, programs, and members of  ASRED as assigned. 
  • Coordinate regional, multi-state, and integrated programs and educational activities. Facilitate  the collection of data on the implementation and evaluation of multi-state programs within the  region. Make these data appropriately available for states to use in reporting against annual plans  of work. Tender regional reports to NIFA and others as appropriate.  
  • Actively pursue regional and multi-state programming and funding opportunities on behalf of the  member states, facilitate the development of proposals and support those proposals through the  funding process. 
  • Cooperate and collaborate as appropriate with experiment station directors, academic heads,  and 1890 administrators at both the regional and national level. 
  • Promote and facilitate the goals and objectives of ASRED through effective liaison among states  within the region, between the Southern Region and other Extension and experiment station  regions, with NIFA, and with a variety of other federal partners. 
  • Work cooperatively with the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors  (SAAESD) staff to coordinate programs and activities and to promote joint research/Extension  cooperation within the Southern Region.  
  • Serve as ASRED’s principal contact with the ECOP/CES Executive Director of Extension. Support  the office of the ECOP Executive Director of Extension and Outreach and the initiatives and  activities of ECOP as appropriate, devoting 25% FTE to national efforts. 
  • Support ECOP Chair when position is occupied by an Extension Director from the Southern  Region. 
  • Be responsible for all fiscal and personnel matters related to the office of the ASRED executive  director. 

Qualifications 

An earned doctoral degree in agricultural, human, life or educational sciences and successful  administrative experience are required. Successful leadership experience at a state Cooperative  Extension Service is highly desirable. Previous or current responsibilities involving appraisal of Extension  educational programs, budget development, human and fiscal resource allocation, administration of  personnel, and development of funding initiatives are important experiences. Comprehensive  understanding of the Cooperative Extension System and its relationships at the federal, state, and county  levels and knowledge and understanding of the broad land-grant mission with particular emphasis on the  role and function of the Cooperative Extension System are preferred. The abilities to plan, organize,  budget, motivate, solve problems, and communicate effectively with diverse audiences and  constituencies in support of the goals of ASRED are essential. Effective use of information technology in 

the delivery of educational programming and in the work of the ASRED is essential. Knowledge of southern  region Cooperative Extension efforts is desirable. 

Salary and Conditions of Employment 

Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. The position of  Executive Director is a full-time, 12-month position. 

Location 

Location of the successful candidate is negotiable. Travel will be required to participate in regional and  national activities.  

To Apply 

Applications and nominations will be accepted until a suitable applicant is identified; review of  applications will begin April 12, 2024. Applicants should submit a letter of intent; curriculum vitae; and  the names and contact information of five (5) references to: 

  

Executive Director Search 

c/o Rick Avery, Director 

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 

asredsearch@ag.tamu.edu 

979-314-8202

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REAL LEADERS®️ Unveils Its Top Impact Companies List of 2024 -Extension Foundation to be honored at Global Celebration on February 6th

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Contacts

(Kansas City, Missouri) – (January 17, 2024) — In its sixth year, Real Leaders®, a Global Media, CEO network, and Certified B Corp, dedicated to inspiring the future of business, is thrilled to announce the 2024 Top Impact Companies. With over 500 applications from 15+ countries, the awards ranked privately-owned companies by asking 30 questions within 6 categories of I.M.P.A.C.T (Intention, Model, People, Accountability, Collaboration, and Transformation) to vet and rank companies based on those parameters. 

In addition to the new I.M.P.A.C.T categories, the awards debuted five new awards such as Most Valuable Mission, Most Innovative Model, Most Impactful People, Best Collaboration, and Most Transparent.

“After five successful years of producing the go-to list of the ‘Top Impact Companies’ it was time for Real Leaders to expand its mission by growing an impact awards community that preserves its integrity while scaling its impact,” said Kevin Edwards, Real Leaders’ General Manager.

The 2024 list features a mix of respected impact brands of all sizes and from a variety of industries with companies such as Brandless, Generate Capital, Cotopaxi, and Every Man Jack. SEE IMPACT AWARDS RANKING.

“We are thrilled to be recognized as a Top Impact Company by Real Leaders®  among many other values-aligned companies,” said Beverly Coberly, Chief Executive Officer of the Extension Foundation. “Our long-term focus on supporting and serving the U.S. Cooperative Extension System has been a huge part of achieving this award”.

A special “Real Leaders UNITE” awards celebration will be held in San Diego on February 6, 2024, to honor the winners.

ABOUT REAL LEADERS

Real Leaders is the fastest-growing community for impact leaders backed by a global media platform dedicated to driving positive change. Founded in 2010, Real Leaders recognized and advocated that businesses take more responsibility to be as cognizant of their impact on employees, society, and the planet as they are on their bottom line. Real Leaders is an independently owned certified B Corporation and member of the UN Global Compact. Our mission is to unite farsighted leaders to transform our shortsighted world.

LinkedIn: Real Leaders

Instagram: @Real_Leaders

Twitter: @Real_Leaders

Facebook: @RealLeadersMagazine

Hashtag: #RealLeadersImpactAwards #TopImpactCompanies

ABOUT EXTENSION FOUNDATION

The Extension Foundation is a nonprofit established by Extension Directors and Administrators nationwide. The Extension Foundation is embedded in the U.S. Cooperative Extension System and serves on the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). Our mission is to help Cooperative Extension generate a more visible, measurable, local impact.

LinkedIn: Extension Foundation

Twitter/X: @ExtFoundation

Facebook: @ExtensionFoundation

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Extension Foundation Selects Ashley Griffin as New Chief Operating Officer

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Ashley Griffin, Chief Operating Officer, Extension Foundation

Ashley Griffin, Chief Operating Officer, Extension Foundation

The Extension Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer Search Committee, led by Dr. Scott Reed, advertised an application for a new Chief Operating Officer beginning in November, 2023. As a result of this search, the Extension Foundation has selected Ashley Griffin as its new Chief Operating Officer effective January 1st, 2024. Griffin has served as the Interim Chief Operating Officer for the past 12 months.

Griffin’s career with Cooperative Extension began in 1996 at the University of Kentucky as an Extension Associate for Equine Youth Activities. From 2002-2005, Griffin served as a Communications Specialist for the University of Kentucky, Agricultural Communications Services, Creative Applications for Learning Environments Lab (CALE). In 2005, Griffin became the Content Design Leader for what was then called the National eXtension Initiative. This included leading the start-up, planning, and maintenance of national Communities of Practice “best-of-the-best” content in their subject areas and training communities on using and managing eXtension’s legacy tools and systems. In 2011, Griffin became a Community Engagement Consultant for the eXtension Foundation serving as the primary contact for over 5,500 university faculty and Extension educators participating in over 100 Communities of Practice and Learning Networks from 75 Land-grant universities in the United States. 

Griffin then served as the Extension Foundation’s Program Manager from 2017-2022. Her leadership in this role included leading the Extension Foundation’s evaluation and reporting efforts, developing toolkits and playbooks for clients and partners engaged in Extension Foundation programs, and playing a leading role in the Extension Foundation’s Impact Collaborative program managing a network of 107 trained Innovation Facilitators and delivering professional development events for 211 local and national project teams for over 3000 Extension professionals. 

During her 12 months in the Interim Chief Operating Officer role, Griffin oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Extension Foundation, coordinating efforts across various Team Leaders and staff/contractors that support the Foundation’s grants and national programs. Additionally, she played a key role in strengthening the Extension Foundation’s Human Resource services and support for staff while developing operational processes to scale the staff and contractor pool for new grant awards. Additionally, she continued to lead the Extension Foundation’s Publications team to guide the direction and delivery of sharing impactful works with over 50 publications and reports published to date. 

As the Chief Operating Operation Officer, Griffin will be responsible for the daily operations of the Extension Foundation to include talent acquisition and onboarding, personnel, grant development and administration, supporting the development and implementation of a strategic plan, and overall leadership for the internal operations of the Extension Foundation.

According to Griffin, “I’ve had the good fortune to be part of this wonderful organization for nearly two decades, which started as a grant-funded initiative known as the National eXtension Initiative back in 2005, and has grown into the operating Foundation that it is today. I’m excited about the future of this organization and what its dedicated team of professionals can do for the Cooperative Extension System, and I look forward to continuing to deliver on our commitment to our partners across the system to help make a greater impact at the local level.”

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2023 Extension Foundation Professional Development Needs Assessment Report

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This work was supported through funding from USDA-NIFA, New Technologies for Ag Extension, grant number 2020-41595-30123 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The purpose of the study was to identify professional development needs for Extension professionals at 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-grant universities in the US and US territories. The Extension Foundation issued a request for applications for a Fellowship to complete this needs assessment. Dr. Karen Vines, Assistant Professor, Continuing Professional Education Specialist, Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education at Virginia Tech was selected as the Fellow and researcher for this project.

A committee composed of the researcher and selected members of the Extension Foundation leadership team served as a panel of experts carrying out a two-stage approach including key informant interviews followed by a national survey of Extension professionals. The survey provided insight into the top challenges Extension professionals feel can be alleviated by professional development training or other resources, training needs across Extension, and training that Extension professionals find to be impactful, or that adds value to their personal or professional lives. Respondents selected from pre-identified categories followed by subcategories to provide further insight into their original selections. In addition, respondents were encouraged to select “other” throughout the survey to provide open-ended comments. 

A total of 1168 responses were received, with 737 complete responses. Responses represented all 1862, 95% of 1890, and 37.5% of 1994 Land-grants. Extension professionals in numerous roles participated in the survey. Community-based faculty and staff being the largest at 40%, followed by campus-based faculty, staff and Land-grant coordinator at 18.93%, and administrative faculty including directors, deans, associate leadership, and program leaders coming in 3rd at 16.01%. Years of service for the respondents ranged from 0.4 to 53 years. The maximum years of service for the 1862 and 1890 Land-grants were 53 and 50 years, respectively, and 29 years in the 1994s. Respondents were also identified in a stratified breakdown of years of service as well as by self-identified career stages. The largest career stage represented in the survey was the colleague stage at 36.83%.

Challenges

The top three challenges selected across 1862, and 1890 Land-grants were 1) Funding and Other Resources, 2) Professional Development, and 3) Institutional Support. Institutional support includes funding and other resources and limited staff capacity/resources (small staff) also referenced in funding and other resources. This category also includes linkages across the Land-grant missions of Extension, research, and teaching. The subcategory that is unique to the institutional support category is organizational trust.

The top three challenges selected by the 1994 Land-grants were 1) Institutional Support, 2) Funding and Other Resources, and 3) Strengthening the National Extension Organization. Subcategories within each of the challenges helped to add meaning to the category. Limited staff capacity and resources associated with small staff was the top contributor as identified by 20.55% of those selecting the funding and other resources category across all institutions. Employee retention and burnout were the top contributors to professional development with 12.90 and 12.85% by those across all institutions selecting these subcategories. The limited staff capacity along with funding and other resources were the primary selections of those selecting the institutional support category at 28.88 and 25.17% across all organizations. Organizational trust and linkages across the missions of the Land-grant were selected by 16.11 to 13.06% of the respondents. Over 50% of those selecting the Strengthening the National Extension Organization Category across all organizations indicated the need for developing connections to positions across Extension organizations (50.98%) with linkages across Land-grant types also highly selected (45.10%). 

Training Needs Identified

The top three training needs selected by 1862 Land-grants were community engagement, telling our story, and career progression at 10.99%, 10.86%, and 9.90%, respectively. The top three training needs for the 1890 Land-grants were telling our story, supervisory skills, and community engagement at 12.01%, 10.39%, and 10.06% respectively. The top training need for the 1994 Land-grants was professional development (12.04%) with telling our story and funding and other resources tied for second, both at 11.11%, and community engagement ranking third at 10.19%. 

Finally, respondents were asked to reflect on meaningful training in which they have participated. First, the focus was on impactful training provided by their home institution. The top three categories of impactful training provided by 1862 Land-grants were Core Values, Reporting, and Program Development at 14.05%, 12.89%, and 12.24%, respectively. There was a three-way tie for the top impactful training provided in the 1890 Land-grants with Core Values, Reporting, and Community Engagement all being selected by 10.37% of the respondents. The top two impactful trainings selected for 1994 Land-grants were Program Specific Topics and Community Engagement at 23.53% and 14.71%, respectively. The 1994s reported a two-way tie for third with Core Values and Career Progression both being selected by 11.76% of the respondents. Respondents were also asked to identify training that added value to their personal or professional lives provided at the regional or national level in Extension or by an external organization to Extension. 

Recommendations

This report concludes with recommendations to use the data provided by this study to develop collaborative efforts to strengthen Extension professional development training that encourages effective resource management. The Extension Foundation is recommended as an organization to facilitate national discussions leading to the development of a framework for courses and curriculum that can be tailored to multiple audiences. This will facilitate the sharing of resources, providing not only strengthened professional development training across all Land-grants at the national level but also supporting the development of an Extension certificate program that may be attractive to current and prospective Extension professionals. Recommendations for further study related to survey findings and the use of this instrument for future needs assessment are also provided.

Extension Foundation Response

In response to the needs identified in the 2023 Extension Foundation Professional Development Needs Assessment, the Extension Foundation has tailored its 2024 professional development offerings for its members at 69 Land-grant universities to help meet these needs. Professional development events aligned with these needs are connected to the major needs categories and include:

  • Extension Skills (Monthly): Telling Your Extension Story, Community Engagement, Finding and Securing Funding Opportunities
  • Dynamic Discussions (Monthly): Effective Communication and Outreach, Discussing Equity Needs in Cooperative Extension, Workforce Development

Additionally, several Leadership and Team Development offerings will be provided throughout 2024 including a personal leadership boot camp, trust-building initiatives, coaching for overcoming challenges, distributed leadership training, Crucial Conversations for mastering dialogue, and Crucial Influence for effective personal, social, and structural influence.

Members can visit www.extension.org to learn more about each of these offerings and register for 2024 professional and leadership development events. 

The Full Report for this 2023 Professional Development Needs Assessment is available at this link.

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Extension Foundation Launches Pesticide Safety Education Funds Program Application, Due Date: January 1st, 2024

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Application Information

The application for the Pesticide Safety Education Funds Program (PSEFMP) is now available. Applicants are asked to apply using the following link: https://webportalapp.com/sp/login/psefmp. The due date for the application is January 1st, 2024.

Additional Resources

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for this funding applicants must be affiliated with a U.S. Land Grant University. Only one application per state or territory will be eligible for funding.

Program Contact

Tira Adelman
tiraadelman@extension.org

About the PSEFMP Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a cooperative agreement to the Extension Foundation (EXF) to administer a national subaward program supporting Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEPs). The new project, titled “Empowered Up: A Comprehensive PSEFMP Promoting Efficiency & Environmental Justice,” will receive up to $15 million over five years. It will build upon a previous PSEP subaward program, also managed by EXF, which concluded in July 2023.

PSEPs, based at land grant universities, provide education and training on the safe and proper use of restricted use pesticides (RUPs)–those that are the most acutely toxic pesticides or that must be applied with special care—to applicators in agricultural, commercial, and residential settings. Federal law restricts RUP use to certified applicators or someone under their direct supervision, because of the harm RUPs can cause to people and the environment without additional safety measures. Applicators must undergo rigorous certification procedures to ensure they can use RUPs safely and effectively.  Under this agreement, EXF will provide funds to the PSEPs, which will help prepare applicators for certification and re-certification by teaching them safe and proper application methods, protecting applicators and the public from improper pesticide use.

The new award comes at a critical juncture. In 2017, EPA strengthened certification standards for applicators of RUPs, and required states, tribes, and territories to submit to EPA revised certification plans to meet or exceed the federal standards. All revised plans must be approved by EPA  by November 4, 2023 and then implemented. Many will have to update certification materials as a result. PSEPs will play an essential role in revising materials and trainings, conducting outreach to applicators, and playing other key roles in implementing the regulation.

With this new cooperative agreement, EXF also seeks to expand its environmental justice focus. The previous agreement required the publication of materials for pesticide applicators in multiple languages. The new cooperative agreement also requires  the promotion of environmental justice elements, namely collaborations between PSEPs and minority-serving institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, and Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander, and predominantly Black serving institutions.

To learn more about occupational pesticide safety and health, visit EPA’s website.

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University of New Hampshire Partners with Extension Foundation for USDA-NIFA’s $3.4M New Technologies for Ag Extension Award

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In partnership with the Extension Foundation, the University of New Hampshire was awarded the USDA-NIFA New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) Cooperative Agreement (Grant Number 2023-41595-41325). 

The Technology-Enhanced Cooperative Extension Hub (TECHExt), a groundbreaking initiative led by the University of New Hampshire Extension (UNH Extension) in partnership with the Extension Foundation (EXF), aims to revolutionize the Cooperative Extension System (CES) by infusing it with state-of-the-art technologies and practices. The project aligns with the strategic priorities of the USDA-NIFA and the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), aiming to foster innovation, increase the capacity of Extension professionals, update NewTechnologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) delivery and management policies, enable locally meaningful opportunities through responsive marketing, and conduct comprehensive evaluations for continuous improvement. 

This project will meld UNH Extension’s deep-rooted expertise in community-based research and outreach with EXF’s successful initiatives like Connect Extension, Ask Extension, and ExtensionBot. Utilizing EXF’s substantial track record of executing impactful programs — evidenced by its efficient utilization of over $2.1 million in funding across 72 Extension collaborations in the previous NTAE project cycle– TECHExt is designed to enhance digital accessibility, professional capacity, and stakeholder engagement. UNH Extension will focus on two cornerstone projects: implementing New Hampshire’s comprehensive Digital Equity Plan and transforming its existing email marketing into an integrated omnichannel strategy. These initiatives will align with EXF’s Connect Extension for internal and external community engagement and Ask Extension’s public-facing Q&A service, which answered over 39,212 public inquiries in 2022 alone. Through this strategic collaboration, UNH Extension and EXF aim to create a more inclusive, effective, and technologically advanced CES, setting a precedent for similar systems nationwide. The full award briefing can be found on USDA-NIFA’s website linked here. 

More information about this award will be available in the Fall of 2023, including funding opportunities for Cooperative Extension professionals. Please visit extension.org to stay up-to-date with developments. 

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Extension Foundation Board of Directors Names Dr. Beverly Coberly as the New Chief Executive Officer of the Extension Foundation

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The Extension Foundation is a nonprofit established in 2006 by Extension Directors and Administrators nationwide. Extension Foundation is embedded in the U.S. Cooperative Extension System and serves on Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP).

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This website is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation.

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