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Did you know that next year we will celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Cooperative Extension Service? Cooperative Extension is perhaps best known for its agriculture, 4-H, and family and consumer science programs but we also have a long history of education and outreach in community and rural development, forestry, and more.

Unfortunately, the recent economic woes have not been kind to North Carolina Cooperative Extension. According to a recent NCSU CALS press release, the Cooperative Extension Service in North Carolina has seen recurring federal and state budget cuts of around $20 million since 2000, resulting in the loss of roughly 90 positions — mostly at the county level — over the past four years. Here in Chatham County we have lost two positions since 2000 and we currently have two vacant positions (Horticulture Agent and 4-H agent) that we hope to eventually be able to fill.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension recently launched a strategic visioning and planning initiative to determine how best to adapt to this new economic reality and develop a plan to continue delivering relevant, quality programming to improve the lives of North Carolinians.

We need YOUR help in this process. Extension has organized 12 Listening Sessions around the state to hear directly from our stakeholders. The purpose of these meetings is to explain our current situation and to seek input as we move forward in the strategic planning process. N.C. Cooperative Extension Director Dr. Joe Zublena will be at all the Listening Sessions and is eager to hear your input. Some of these meetings have already occurred but the Piedmont area meetings will be in early December.

December 3: Winston-Salem, NC from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

December 4: Carthage, NC from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

December 10: Hillsborough, NC from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Get details and view the complete schedule of Listening Sessions

Register for a Listening Session

*** If you are not able to attend a Listening Session in person you can provide comments on the Cooperative Extension Strategic Vision and Planning Initiative website at the very bottom of the page.

At our state Extension Conference in Raleigh a couple of weeks ago, speaker Jones Loflin talked about the concept of cutting back to grow forward, saying “That’s the role of pruning in times of change: to create a stronger structure that makes the most efficient use of its resources to deliver quality results.” When I think of the effects of budget cuts on my beloved Extension organization in this way, it makes me feel a little more optimistic and a little less depressed. We all know how important pruning is to fruit production, right? Pruning strengthens the tree and improves fruit production. I am hopeful that wise and careful pruning will strengthen our organization to even better serve the needs of our stakeholders in the next 100 years.

I hope to see you at one of the listening sessions!

For more information:

Visioning Initiative to Help Map Extension’s Future – NCSU CALS Press Release

Providing Solutions for Another Century: Extension Stretegic Vision and Planning Initiative 2013-2014