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MEDIA RELEASE

June 12, 2003
For More Information Contact : Kent Thiesse, U of M Extension Service (507-389-8141)

Extension Service Could Change At Local Level

Written By Kent Thiesse, Blue Earth and Faribault County Extension Director

On May 14, 2003, the University of Minnesota Extension Service announced major changes in the process by which Extension Service programs and services will be delivered to the public and in the method that funding will be provided. This potentially could have a major impact on access to some popular Extension programs that have been traditionally been delivered through local County Extension Offices.

The new Extension Service "Change Plan" will create 18-22 Regional Extension Centers that are geographically distributed around the State, and are primarily funded with State and Federal funding that the U of M receives for the Extension Service. The University has released criteria for selecting the Regional Centers and an Interest Form for groups or individuals to nominate potential locations for the Regional Centers. These Regional Center Interest Forms are due to the U of M by June 25, and final selection of the Regional Center locations will occur in July. A Committee external to the U of M Extension Service is assisting with the selection process for the Regional Centers. The new Regional Extension Centers will open in January, 2004.

Each Regional Extension Center will include a Regional Director and 5-10 specialized Regional Extension Educators in various subject matter expertise areas that will be matched to the critical needs of that region of Minnesota and the research-base of the U of M. The subject matter areas include Agriculture, Food, and Environment; Community Vitality; Family Development; Natural Resources and Environment; and 4-H and Youth Development. These are the same subject matter expertise areas that currently exist in the Extension Service. The Regional Centers will rely heavily on technology to reach producers and consumers with Extension information.

Counties can choose to keep County Extension Offices open after 2003 and could provide additional local, customized Extension positions that are financed through County funding and other local funding sources. These local Extension positions would be purchased through the U of M Extension Service. Most counties currently have annual funding allocations for the Extension Service; however, County resources are being stretched very thin due to State funding reductions. County funds will not be required to support Extension programs and staff at the Regional Extension Centers, which should help make more resources available for County-based Extension positions. It will be permissible for two or more Counties to share the cost of funding the localized Extension positions. Other local agencies or organizations could also partner with Counties to provide Extension Service programs and positions. If a County chooses not to allocate funding to continue the Extension office and programs in that County for 2004, the Extension Office in that County will close on December 31, 2003.

The overall management of the 4-H Youth Development Program by the U of M will be administered through Regional Extension Educators at the Regional Centers. All youth and adult leaders will have the opportunity to enroll in the traditional 4-H Program through the Regional Centers. Counties will probably need to hire additional staff support at the local level to maintain a strong local 4-H Program. Otherwise support for popular 4-H activities such as community clubs, project meetings, County Fair, leadership development, camps, and other 4-H events could be greatly limited. Local support by Extension staff may also be necessary to maintain program leadership and support for other popular local youth programs, such as the Youth Health Fair, Environmental and Safety Camps, Youth Government Days, Ag In The Classroom, After-School Programs., and other special youth activities.

Other local Extension programs could also be affected by the future decisions regarding County Extension Offices and staffing. This includes the Master Gardener Program, Extension Study Groups, The Land Rental Survey, Newsletters and Media information, other well-used services that are currently available at County Offices. The changes could also limit access to Extension Staff for answering producer and consumer questions on agriculture, horticulture, nutrition, family resources, and other subject matter. Some support for these programs will likely be maintained with County-based Extension staff resources.

County Extension Committees will be working with County Boards of Commissioners and County Administration over the next few months to review County Extension budgets and to set priorities for future Extension Service programming and staffing at the County level. They will also be looking at opportunities to partner with other Counties and external funding partners to maintain a strong Extension Service program at the local level. These will certainly be some very difficult and important decisions for County Officials during some very challenging financial times.

For more information on the U of M Extension Service Change Plan, individuals should contact their local County Extension Service or go to the University of Minnesota Extension Service web site at : www.extension.umn.edu