What Will Extension Look Like in the Future…..

A 1890 and 1862 Perspective

Dawn Mellion-Patin Laura Perry Johnson

Southern University University of Georgia

University of Georgia - Context

• Oldest Land grant in the Nation

• Strong history and tradition of Extension

• Integration of Research and Extension (and Teaching)

• Ag drives the economy of GA! ~ $74B!

• Best State in the Nation in which to do business – 7 years in a row! Also one of fastest growing!

• 159 Counties! Extension office in all of them

• Excellent ANR and 4-H Programs, growing FACS programs

• ~150 ANR Agents, ~125 4-H Agents, ~ 50 FACS

• ~160 Extension Specialists (~100 EFT)

• ~1500 Classified Staff

Prosperity is not Shared by All

• 82 of 159 counties lost population since last census

• 6 counties (Atlanta and Savannah) account for 2/3 of all population growth

• Many persistently poor counties

• Happens to be where the ag productivity is!

Trouble in God’s Country

Southern University and A & M College - Context

• Only HBCU College System in the US• 5 campuses; 3 land masses

• SUBR – main academic campus• SUSLA – 2 year college• SUNO – urban / commuter campus • SULC – law center• SUAREC - agricultural extension and research

• Agricultural Research and Extension Center is the 5th Campus of the SU System

• 2016 teaching, research and service were linked under one umbrella

• Only remaining livestock show at a 1890 institution

• Strong academic and outreach (Extension) programs

The Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension

Center was established as the 5th campus in the Southern

University and A & M College System on July 1, 2001.

Historically, Southern University, as a land-grant institution has addressed problems confronting traditionally underserved farmers, socially and economically disadvantaged families, and economically distressed rural and urban communities.

SU Ag Center programs focus on the eradication of poverty in Louisiana

Programs

• Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems for Small Scale Farms

• Human Nutrition, Diet and Health for Limited Resource Families

• Family, Youth Development and Enrichment for Limited Resource Families

• Urban Forestry, Natural Resources and Environment for Urban Communities

• Economics, Marketing, Policy and Community Development for Small and Disadvantaged Businesses.

Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center Context

• The SU Ag Center continuously offers relevant and effective services to Louisiana citizens through Research, Teaching Extension (Outreach).

• Currently extension faculty/staff provides service throughout the state with assigned responsibilities in 34 parishes.

Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Our Statewide Presence

• Conduct focus group / listening sessions

Clientele involved in programming

Meet clientele where they are

Regularly meet with advisory councils

• Stay abreast of current issues, trends and technologies

• Ask open ended questions on surveys and evaluations

• Follow the military example: cross train agents

Professional development

Identify and utilize greatest strengths

Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center

How Do We Stay Relevant?

Major Issue / Observation

• In an attempt to keep up with corporate America and large scale agriculture, we left behind the smaller scale farm family

• We stopped listening

• We stopped focusing on their needs and focus more on our opportunities

• We stopped helping them to maximize their potential and started helping them reach our ambitions

• Pushed larger scale farms

• Consolidate into monoculture agricultural systems

How Do We Stay Relevant?For me, it is simple!

• Serve the local clientele and address local issues

• Sound needs assessment

• Programs are based on the audience and they look different in different areas of the state

• Relevant and impactful programming

• Do the work we are uniquely qualified to do

• Partner, connect or refer when we need to

This is not New!!!!

Issue: Reaching an Expanded Audience

while serving the Existing Clientele

Traditional&

Transformational

Strong Extension Programs

• Based on solid needs assessment

• Grounded in unbiased, research-based work

• Audience appropriate

• Document Impact – planned with outcomes in mind

FY 19 UGA Extension Funding

County

Federal

GG&C

Sales & Service

IDC

State

Other

Total Budget ~$107,000,000

-

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

30,000,000

35,000,000

40,000,000

45,000,000

Federal Appropriations State Appropriations Local Appropriations Gifts, Grants, and Contracts

Indirect Cost Recoveries Sales and Services Other Sources

Total Funding Over Time

Funding Discussion

• We enjoy strong local and state funding

• Local partners do not always have to be County Government

• Diversification is important

• Sales and Service is Important

• Much room for growth in Grants, Gifts and Contracts

• Strong relationships, programming and impact are vital

• This is an on-going process!

Funding Discussion

• Minimal state funding, just enough to meet the federal match, using creative math

• From 2008 – 2016, higher education in Louisiana experienced devastating budget cuts

• Support from parishes (counties) is vital to the operation of county offices

• 1890 & 1862 agents are housed together

• Southern University Extension budget is roughly

10% of the UGA Extension

operating budget

Funding Discussion

Extension as a Part of the Greater University (System)

CAFCS

Livestock Show

Leadership Development

Internships

Community Commercial Kitchen Incubator

Provide nutrition education classes

4-H Youth Agent housed on campus2020

Agricultural Mediation Program

Medical Cannabis Program

Louisiana Hemp Initiative

Collaborations on Urban Agriculture, Community and Economic Development

4-H Youth Agent housed on campus

Extension as a Part of the Greater University

• In Georgia, this has been an up and down relationship!

• “B Budget” Unit

• Public Service & Outreach vs. Extension

• At times, Lack of Understanding and Empathy on both sides

• Some Issues:

- 9 vs. 12 month appointments

- What is scholarship? Worthy of promotion & tenure?

- Metric and ranking driven

- Politics!

• Very similar to SWOT in

Land-Grant Universities for the Future

For Better or Worse…..

• We are part of an academic institution

– not a NGO or Non-profit

• We are part of the tripartite mission

• The issues and challenges are too big not to bring all our assets to the table

• Land Grants were created to serve the people – Extension is a huge and vital part of this!

Your Chance to Discuss!!

What is the Unique Role of Extension Today and in

the Future?

(5 min to discuss)

What do we START doing?

What do we STOP doing?

What do we CONTINUE doing?

(8 min to discuss)