1. Overview of Cooperative Extension Strengthening Extension Advisory Leaders Cathy M. Sutphin, PhD Virginia Cooperative Extension Virginia Tech

2. The Mission of Cooperative Extension To enable people to improve their lives and communities through an educational process, which uses scientific knowledge focused on issues and needs

3. Enabling Legislation Smith-Lever Act 1914: Partnership of the USDA and the Land-Grant universities Federal Morrill acts of 1862 and 1890

4. Extension is Cooperative in Nature USDA Land-Grant Cooperative Extension Local Government

5. Outreach Partner of the Land- Grant Institution Federal, State, Local Provide practical, research information to local communities to solve local issues Professional Network

6. How Is Extension Unique? Governmental agency created by law Provides services to any person without discrimination Federal, state, and local partners Informal educational program Offers practical subject matter and seeks to solve problems Participation is purely voluntary

7. Unique Continued Subject matter is primarily agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and youth development Programs based on needs and are responsive to local communities Research based information Equal partner with the research and teaching units in the land-grant university system Engages volunteers in planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programs Involves local leadership advisory groups in the programming process

8. Organization and Structure National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP)

9. Funding Federal, State, and Local Governments Smith-Lever Funding

10. Funding Chart

11. Programming Influence USDA establishes program guidelines and initiatives of national scope State administrators and specialists help set statewide initiatives, provide professional development, and disseminate relevant research Local units plan implement and evaluate programs based on local need

12. Key Players State Specialists Extension Agents/Educators Paraprofessionals/Program Assistants Volunteers

13. References Rasmussen, W. (1989). Taking the university to the people. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press. Seevers, B., Graham, D., Gamon, J., and N. Conklin. (1997). Education through cooperative extension. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.