1. County Delivery System Summary Report: Statewide Survey of Extension Personnel Nick Fuhrman, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communication

2. Our Sample (738 completed surveys)

3. Our Sample NE District: 148 (20.2%) NW District: 183 (25.0%) SE District: 150 (20.5%) SW District: 153 (20.9%) State-level: 98 (13.4%) Note: On average, 129 people skipped the demographic section.

4. Our Sample

5. Quantitative Results We should have at least one Agent in every county, regardless of program area. Open to another delivery model, other than county-based delivery? 0-5 years experience6-15 years experience 49% open, 13% did not know51% open, 13% did not know 0-5 years experience (n = 257) 6-15 years experience (n = 254) 42% absolutely agree39% absolutely agree

6. Quantitative Results Agents should have opportunities in multiple program areas. For some services, paraprofessionals are a viable alternative to a full-time Agent. 0-5 years experience6-15 years experience 70% agree80% agree 0-5 years experience6-15 years experience 67% agree

7. The Role of Paraprofessionals In a county with no Agents, what services/programs could be done by a paraprofessional only? 1. 4-H club meetings/in-school programs 2. Submitting soil, water, and plant samples to lab 3. Office duties (answering phones, copies, etc.) 4. Publicizing programs (distributing pubs.) 5. All “canned” programs w/ supervision

8. Quantitative Results If your county Extension office had to be closed, would you be willing to work in another county? Should county offices consider alternative office hours to meet clientele needs? 0-5 years experience6-15 years experience 49% yes, 32% no, 19% didn’t know 52% yes, 29% no, 19% didn’t know 0-5 years experience6-15 years experience 62% yes, 8% no, 30% didn’t know 61% yes, 12% no, 27% didn’t know

9. Importance to County Delivery Extension ComponentLevel of Importance Producing written publications Important (57%) Facilitating one-on-one face-to-face education Important (80%) Facilitating group face-to-face education Important (85%) Using mass media (press, news, radio) for education Important (55%) Facilitating online education Moderately Important (46%) Designing/maintaining a website Moderately Important (42%) Using social media (facebook, twitter) for education Moderately Important (33%)

10. 4-H Agents must engage in…

11. ANR Agents must engage in…

12. FACS Agents must engage in…

13. Where to make cutbacks? 1. Decrease number of meetings (and travel), implement more online 2. Cluster/consolidate offices and programs 3. Reduce printing and postal mail use

14. What to protect at all costs? 1. Presence in every county (county offices) 2. 4-H programming 3. ANR Agents and programs

15. Summary Personnel open to alternative delivery models and working in another county with alternative office hours Agents should serve multiple program areas Paraprofessionals are an important resource to consider and utilize Face-to-face education is more important over technology-facilitated education for clientele