gather for Extension Conference
“Engagement” was
all the buzz as more than 800 extension professionals from around the
state gathered in Raleigh March 3-5 for State Extension Conference.
It was the first statewide gathering of North
Carolina Cooperative Extension faculty in more than three years.
There they examined how effectively universities interact with their
publics and engage with communities in meaningful dialogue and activities.
For the first time, the
conference included professionals from North Carolina State University’s
Industrial Extension Service,
as well as other university extension and outreach units. Cooperative
Extension faculty from N.C. State
and N.C. A&T State University
attended. This year’s event brought together veteran Extension
employees and many new employees who had joined the ranks in the last
two years.
The event included an awards
luncheon with a sparkling-grape-juice toast, a day of training with
up to four sessions of workshops, an evening of music and dancing, subject-area
meetings and a tailgate-style luncheon, complete with N.C. State cheerleaders,
pep band and head football coach Chuck Amato.
The business of the conference
focused on discussions of engagement and what it means for the two universities
and established extension programs. Two panel discussions on Monday
and one on Wednesday morning focused on engaged universities.
Extension panelists from
N.C. State and N.C. A&T State discussed the importance of engagement
and how the universities are working to bring their resources to bear
on the state issues.
The panelists were joined
by a county commissioner, district court judge and university legislative
liaison who described some of the local needs that engagement could
address. Those needs included assistance with planning and zoning, helping
local industries, encouraging development of countywide water and sewer
and strengthening families.
N.C. State legislative liaison
Andy Willis said it is important for extension professionals to let
their elected representatives know of efforts in legislative districts.
The state’s General Assembly this year has the largest number of
new members since the Civil War, he said.
Dr. Ray McKinnie of N.C.
A&T’s Cooperative Extension Program, Dr. Jon Ort of N.C. State’s
Cooperative Extension Service and Terri Helmlinger of N.C. State’s
Industrial Extension Service discussed the seven-part test in the Kellogg
Report on engagement. Each gave examples of ways that university extension
efforts already are meeting the goals of the seven-part test.
The final morning included
program area meetings, greetings from Dean Alton Thompson of N.C. A&T
State’s School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and a
panel discussion. Following the discussion, participants enjoyed a tailgate-style
lunch in a room filled with N.C. State red-and-white balloons and N.C.
A&T State blue-and-gold balloons.
—Natalie
Hampton
