Cooperative Extension folks are on the front lines of interfacing with
our citizens every day
and they are the folks that translate the
incredible research that's going on in this
university into practice into communities
and changes peoples lives and quality of life
and so that's why it was important for me
to be here.
The reason that the citizens of this state
have invested in this institution so strongly
and for so long is because they see the value
in their own lives and I can't think of a
better way, a better example of that, than
through Cooperative Extension where there's
that literally immediate payoff on investment.
And with respect to access and affordability
for students, I think students especially
those that we're not reaching as well as we should.
Poor, minority, rural and first generation
students, they really can see a path for opportunity
themselves through Cooperative Extension.
Telling our story in ways that are compelling
to members of the legislature, to our communities
is absolutely one of the key parts of our work.
We need to tell them about the value that
they are getting from their investments.
We need to do it loudly and proudly and often
and I hope to be a big part of that.
