By Chuck Voelker, Montgomery County rancher
I am a proud member of our local extension district’s governing board. One of our responsibilities is the annual performance evaluations for our 14 extension professionals. After reviewing their goals, accomplishments and community involvement, I was simply amazed at all of the great works being done. And that got me wondering how many people really understand or recognize the variety and scope of activities agents are responsible for and involved with across the state.
But first, a brief history lesson. Since the passage of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, K-State Extension has strived to improve Kansans’ lives, livelihoods and communities through education, research, engagement and leadership. In 1915, the Kansas Legislature passed the County Farm Bureau Law to provide state and county funding to implement local agricultural extension programs. Yes, many of the first extension professionals actually were employed by Farm Bureau. The law was revised in 1951 to separate the county extension program from Farm Bureau, making it a cooperative responsibility between the newly created county agricultural extension councils and Kansas State University.
K-State Extension is alive and well in all 105 Kansas counties. Every county has an extension office staffed with personnel ready to either provide advice or search for helpful solutions. Currently, there are 57 counties covered by 21 districts. The remaining 48 counties have their own agents and programs.
While programming will vary across the state, there are four basic areas of focus: agriculture, 4-H and youth development, family and consumer sciences, and community vitality.
Extension work in the agriculture sector today is much more than traditional livestock and crop production. Horticulture, natural resources activities, wildlife promotion, predator control, pond management, tractor safety, backyard poultry, bee keeping, water quality, meat science events and even mushroom farming are just a few of the numerous topics being addressed by current extension personnel.
Kansas 4-H officially began in 1905, making it one of the earliest state-level 4-H programs in the United States. It is no longer just about “sows, cows and plows”. Today’s 4-H involves STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities and projects in areas such as communications, interior design and architecture, performing arts, health and wellness, computer science and entrepreneurship just to mention a few. Many 4-H agents across the state are actively participating with schools and other groups to provide programming opportunities with youth that might not otherwise have the opportunity.
Family and consumer sciences is so much more than the long-associated cooking, canning and clothing focus areas. Today, you’ll find our agents involved with programming in areas such as diabetes prevention, healthy snack creations, safe food handler training, exercise events for aging individuals, babysitting clinics and activities for improving the health and quality of life for older adults.
Community vitality is a focus area I’m sure many are unaware of. Our agents are highly involved in community events and activities. Helping to bring in grant money for revitalization of parks and recreational areas, assisting retirees with their Medicare selections and tax preparation, community health worker programs, entrepreneurship opportunities, small business development assistance and community meeting facilitations are just a few of their undertakings.
Yes, K-State Extension provides much needed and certainly undervalued services all across this great state. While it is ever evolving and changing, the responsibilities, passion and willingness to serve will forever be present. If you’re not familiar with the activities of your local extension office, I highly suggest you stop by to see it for yourself. Who knows, you might just become a volunteer to assist in your own area of expertise.
“Insight” is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.
