November 23, 2021
Thankful for Extension Colleagues
Last week we focused on being thankful for our volunteers and their work. This week, I want to focus on being thankful for, well, you.
Throughout this state we have hundreds of colleagues that empower people to better their lives, livelihoods and communities through research, extension education and facilitation. Each one plays a valuable role in that mission.
We have researchers, specialists, agents, program leaders, program coordinators and program assistants directly engaging the people of Kansas with our resources and programs.
Behind the scenes, we have office professionals, accounting specialists, administrative specialists, custodians, human capital professionals, marketing and communications specialists, and administrative leaders that work hard to facilitate the work of our researchers and educators.
Even though we had a lot of shocks to our system the past 20 months – the COVID-19 challenge, furloughs, budget reductions, program delivery decisions, masks, labor shortages, and vaccines to name just a few – we did not lose focus on our mission. We just fulfilled our mission in different ways. Between October 2019 and October 2020, our system of extension professionals and volunteers made 739,224 direct education contacts and 747,121 indirect educational contacts. From October 2020 to October 2021, we made 704,219 direct educational contacts and 1,670,000 indirect educational contacts.
Thank you for the work you do and for the impact our combined work has on the people we serve. During the past 20 months, you did what all great extension professionals do: you put the needs of the people of Kansas first. I am and always will be proud of the work you did and the impact you created these past 20 months, and I am sure I will be proud of your work and impact in the future.
Thank you!