December 9, 2025
Moving Forward as We Elevate Extension
At the recent K-State Extension Annual Conference, I’m sure you learned more about the elevation of extension in presentations, smaller group meetings and hallway conversations. However, at the same time, we’ve heard many of you raise the question(s), such as:
• “How is all of this impacting me and my job?”
• “I am not sure where I sit on the bus anymore.”
• Or, “I’m still confused.”
We all take in and process information differently. We also live in a very diverse state, and the view out of our front doors is different in Hamilton County, compared to Johnson County or Manhattan. Because of this, there is no ‘one size that fits all’ answer to the above question(s). However, I hope that what I write below helps each of you individually.
Let me repeat, the elevation of extension to the university level does not signal any change for our dedicated faculty and staff. We have always served the needs of the Sunflower State; to some of us and those we serve, our efforts may be most evident in agriculture, but we are active in many other areas.
This move adds more campus resources to all of our collective efforts to deliver better and evolving programming, working internally across colleges at the university and various partners across the state.
How might you consider aligning the above statement to where you work and live? A suggestion on how to relate this question to your community and constituents would be to revisit K-State’s Next Gen Plan. If you examine the 10 imperatives, you may see yourself in your vital role fostering partnerships and increasing economic opportunities in your county or district (see imperatives six and seven).
Reviewing imperative five, this one aligns nicely with extension’s effort in the western region to help wheat producers battle the wheat curl mite and the diseases it carries. The team’s work aligns well with the definition: We will nimbly and proactively meet the needs of learners, employers, and society, working diligently to understand and anticipate those needs and aligning our programs, services, and structures to equip learners with the skills and experiences they need.
Review the core areas of the opportunity agenda. I promise you’ll see the work you do, your professional passions, and the efforts you put into those four pillars. Read the preamble on the web page, and you’ll see extension prominently mentioned. These sections encompass the work you do today and the work you’ll do tomorrow to improve and support your communities.
If you still have questions, I recommend discussing them directly with your supervisor. Be direct and ask the question, “How does what I do help elevate extension?” I promise you’ll have an engaging conversation.
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to leadership and engage with us.