While University of Missouri Extension is a statewide entity that draws on nationwide resources, its chief focus is to develop programs that address local needs, said Becky Simpson, county program director.
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"MU Extension is a unique federal, state and local partnership, and is a direct link for our citizens to the research expertise of the University of Missouri," Simpson said.
MU Extension recently completed a year-long assessment of local and state needs, which has resulted in a "plan of work" that will guide program development and delivery in the coming years.
"Locally, the plan of work development process identified a number of issues that citizens will be looking to MU for programming, support and expertise," Jayla Smith, Daviess County Extension Chairperson said.
The Daviess County program plan has been reviewed by the Extension Council and local program efforts are now under way. New programs for county residents include: Annie’s Project, Golden Age Farming, Plant Protection for the 21st Century, Missouri Grown, Sheep and Goat Production, Poll Worker Training, Focus on Kids, RentSmart, Dining With Diabetes, and many others in the areas of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business Development, Community Development, Human Environmental Sciences, and 4-H Youth Development. More information about these programs is available from the Daviess County Extension Center, 660-663-3232 or can be found on the county Web site at http://extension.missouri.edu/daviess
Statewide, the plan of work process included community town-hall meetings at 16 sites; diversity issue discussions at 12 sites; meetings with 1,133 local extension council members; a random telephone survey with 1,000 respondents; and a Web survey with approximately 7,000 respondents.
In addition, extension faculty and staff gathered input from Missouri state agencies, federal agencies, associations and funding partners. This input also went into priorities for the plan of work.
MU Extension is moving to an ongoing, cyclical process in which statewide and county plans will be reviewed annually. In spring 2007, councils will be asked to review progress to date and suggest revisions for program thrusts for the following year.
Missourians with suggestions or other input on MU Extension programs can give that input several ways Simpson said. Comments can be delivered to the local extension office, or to a member of the county council. Comments also can be made electronically by browsing to the MU Extension Web site at http://muextension.missouri.edu and selecting the "Contact Us" button on that site.